Afghanistan demands halt to NATO airstrikes in residential areas

Afghanistan called on the US-led NATO forces in the country to halt airstrikes carried out in residential areas.The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement on Monday that the foreign forces should stop airstrikes on residential areas, which are conducted under the pretext of targeting militants, since such assaults cause "more civilian deaths", press tv reported.The appeal came after the recent US airstrike on a village in the Eastern province of Kunar, which killed 17 civilians including a dozen children and four women.Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on April 13 that Washington violated international human rights when the US military carried out the deadly airstrike.Many civilians have lost their lives in US-led operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past decade, with Afghans becoming increasingly outraged at the seemingly endless number of the deadly assaults.Washington claims that its airstrikes target militants, but local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains across the country, despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.