PAN, March 12, 2011

ISAF soldiers kill civilians, residents claim

"Foreign soldiers raided out house and took my brothers out, and then they shot them dead"

By Abdul Moeed Hashmi

The men, who were killed in the overnight operation in Gul Bagh area on the outskirts of Jalalabad, were brothers, said a tribal elder, Ghulam Nabi. (Photo: PAN)

An investigation has been launched to determine whether the victims were civilians or militants, the governor's spokesman, Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The men, who were killed in the overnight operation in Gul Bagh area on the outskirts of Jalalabad, were brothers, said a tribal elder, Ghulam Nabi.

Hazrat Khan and Zaibta Khan, both taxi drivers, had no links with any rebel group, he said. The victims worked for a private transport company, said their brother, Gulzar.

"Foreign soldiers raided out house and took my brothers out, and then they shot them dead," he added.

Zabit Khan's son said: "My father mistook the soldiers for robbers. He left the house with a gun. As soon as he stepped out of home, the troops shot him to death."

Meanwhile, the NATO-led force said Afghan and collation troops targeted a Hezb-i-Islmi Khalis leader, and killed two individuals, who presented a threat to the troops.

The militant leader, affiliated with Al Qaeda, facilitated roadside blasts and suicide attacks, an ISAF statement said. He recently met with other Taliban leaders to plan attacks on security forces.

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