| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| Afghan Govt Insists on No-Night-Raids |
| 2010-12-01 |
| [Tolo News] A top official in the Government Media and Information Centre Tuesday once again pressed on an end to night raids by foreign troops in Afghanistan Criminal masterminds and assassins and such work from home during business hours, so there's no need to disturb an entire household's sleep, is there? Foreign forces usually conduct night raids in different provinces to hunt local Taliban leaders or people close to snuffies. Nato military officials have mostly remarked about the significant effect of night raids in the fight against insurgency. The value is negated by the inconvenience to the women and kiddies and baby ducks and such... Night raids have caused widespread concerns within the Afghan government, said Deputy for the Government Media and Information Centre, Sediq Sedeeqi. Mr Sedeeqi said Afghan government is committed to go shoulder-to-shoulder with the international community in the fight, but the government underlines Afghan forces' leadership in operations. "The stance of the Afghan government is clear to halt these night raids. It is totally clear," said Mr Sedeeqi. He said if the international community ignores the Afghan government's demand, the government will continue pushing the international community to accept it. "Operations against terrorism should be led by Afghan cops which goes back to the issue of security hand-over to Afghan forces," said Mr Sedeeqi. The remarks came in reaction to comments made by the front man for Isaf forces, Joseph Blotz, as he called night raids fruitful to Afghanistan during a presser yesterday. In an exclusive interview with the Washington Post recently, President Karzai had called for a stop to night raids. His remarked sparked reactions of some western officials. President Karzai had told the Washington Post the time for a reduction in operations had come. "The time has come to reduce military operations," Karzai told the Post. "The time has come to reduce the presence of, you know, boots in Afghanistan . . . to reduce the intrusiveness into the daily Afghan life." Following the remarks by President Karzai, the US commander of foreign forces, Gen. David Petraeus had also expressed "astonishment and disappointment". US Secretary of State in a pre-taped has said that President Karzai endorses the US war strategy in particular night raids in Afghanistan Recently, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill... , also told CBS in a pre-taped interview that President Karzai had urged Washington to review operations by US forces in which civilians have been killed in the conflict. She said she understood President Karzai's concerns about night raids. She said US troops will take a supporting role after 2014. "We're intent on reaching the goal of transitioning to Afghan security in 2014. But both the United States and NATO ISAF partners have said that of course we'd both be willing to train and equip the Afghan military, what we do with countries around the world....So the security lead, the fight if you will, does transition to the Afghans. Support for that fight will continue to be provided," she said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 What time zone am I on? What country am I in? It doesn't matter. It 17:00 somewhere. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-12-01 12:49 |
| #1 Me thinks Mr Sedeeqi needs a "night visit" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-12-01 10:01 |