Afghan officials, Coalition forces investigate claims of civilian casualties in Shah Wali Kot

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan government officials, Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces Thursday traveled to Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar province, to investigate claims of civilian casualties.  Results of the joint investigation to date indicate that there were 37 civilians killed and 35 civilians wounded in a battle where an ANSF-Coalition forces patrol was ambushed by insurgents in the village.

The combined forces conducted a key leader engagement with village elders in Wech Baghtu to discuss Monday’s battle between insurgents and ANSF and Coalition forces.  Village elders told the joint investigation team that insurgents who were not from their village came in large numbers to Wech Baghtu.  The elders acknowledged that insurgents fired at ANSF and Coalition forces from some of the villagers’ homes while using the homes for cover.

The villagers also stated that insurgents prevented the families from leaving the village, indicating a deliberate attempt to cause civilian casualties.

The ANSF and Coalition forces patrol was taking accurate fire from the high ground and was separated from its relief unit by an improvised road block, and used close air support to suppress enemy fires.

One villager reported insurgents moving down a mountain and firing on the combined forces from the roofs of villagers’ homes in an attempt to use villagers as human shields.

Another villager said he was appreciative of the compensation and grateful for the phone call he received from His Excellency Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president.

Afghan government officials, Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition force officials also visited the families of victims in Shah Wali Kot district at a hospital in Kandahar city, Kandahar province on Friday.  During the hospital visit, condolence payments were distributed to victims and their families.

After the families told the combined forces their accounts of the events, a village elder thanked the visitors for addressing their needs.

 “Our primary effort is to provide security for the civilian population,” said Col. Greg Julian, U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman. “Civilians getting caught in the crossfire is the worst possible thing that could happen.  We regret this tragic loss of innocent lives and express our condolences to the families and to the people of Afghanistan.”