Reuters
02/06/2010
By
[Printer Friendly Version]

KANDAHAR - Seven Afghan boys were shot dead on Saturday by police who mistook them for insurgents, a provincial police official said.

The boys were collecting firewood when police opened fire on them in the border town of Spin Boldak, southern Kandahar province, Abdul Raziq, police commander for the town, said.

The police had been detained and were being questioned, he said.

Spin Boldak has been an entry point for Pakistani insurgents who infiltrate Afghanistan to stage attacks against the government and international forces.

Last year, 2,400 Afghan civilians were killed in Taliban attacks and Afghan and NATO-led operations, according to the United Nations.

The killing of civilians is a sensitive issue and President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly warned that civilian deaths sap support for his administration and for the presence of some 115,000 foreign troops in the country.

(Reporting by Ismail Sameem; Writing by Hamid Shalizi; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Truth, lies and Afghanistan Armed Forces Journal (02/07/2012)

Are We Losing the War in Afghanistan? Commentary (02/07/2012)

Afghan child labor fears grow as aid dries up Reuters (02/07/2012)

Key Taliban assassins detained: spy service Pajhwok (02/07/2012)

US colonel: Don't believe US statements on progress in Afghanistan Christian Science Monitor (02/07/2012)

Reports on Afghanistan war too rosy? Army officer, others say yes Christian Science Monitor (02/07/2012)

I'll get 'nuked' for revealing Afghan failures, admits US army colonel The Independent (02/07/2012)

Behind the Cover Story: Luke Mogelson on the U.S. Endgame in Afghanistan The New York Times (02/07/2012)

Afghans the losers in US election Sydney Morning Herald (02/06/2012)

Insecurity deprives 4,000 Baghlan children of education Pajhwok (02/06/2012)

Afghan Taliban deny Mullah Omar wrote to White House Reuters (02/06/2012)

Pakistan seeks a place at Qatar Taliban talks Financial Times (02/06/2012)

In Afghanistan, a new approach to teaching history: Leave out the wars The Washington Post (02/06/2012)

The death of the American dream in Afghanistan The Independent (02/06/2012)

Military comeback a distant dream for Afghan Taliban Reuters (02/06/2012)

U.S. Plans Shift to Elite Units as It Winds Down in Afghanistan The New York Times (02/05/2012)

Civilians among 49 killed in Helmand Pajhwok (02/05/2012)

Tracking Down Shady Passport Trade in Afghanistan IWPR (02/05/2012)

Please be careful on Afghanistan CNN (02/05/2012)

Afghan analyst warns U.S. early pullout would fuel militancy Xinhua (02/05/2012)

Can the Afghan economy be saved? CNN (02/05/2012)

Charges dropped against U.S. soldier in Afghan murder case Reuters Reuters (02/05/2012)

The Coming Civil War in Afghanistan Foreign Policy (02/05/2012)

Record Number of Afghan Civilians Died in 2011, Mostly in Insurgent Attacks, U.N. Says The New York Times (02/05/2012)

Politics drives exit from Afghanistan The Associated Press (02/05/2012)

The spectre of comparisons The Economist (02/05/2012)

Obama Got Message Supporting Talks With Taliban, but Maybe Not From Its Leader The New York Times (02/05/2012)

French troops withdraw from Tagab camps Pajhwok (02/06/2012)

Driven Away by a War, Now Stalked by Winter’s Cold The New York Times (02/04/2012)

Civilians among 49 killed in Helmand Pajhwok (02/03/2012)