President Hamid Karzai on Saturday said that Afghan security forces should no longer call on the US or Nato for air support during military operations following the reported deaths of 10 civilians in an airstrike intended to strike insurgents.
"Today I announce that no [Afghan] military institution under any conditions can call for foreign air support in the country," Karzai said in a speech at the National Military Academy in Kabul.
Emphasising his seriousness, Karzai added that a presidential decree will be issued in this regard in the near future.
At least 10 civilians of eastern Kunar province were reportedly killed in an airstrike conducted during a joint Afghan and Isaf military operation the early hours of Wednesday morning.
