NATO agrees to curb Afghan airstrikes

NATO forces have agreed to curtail the use of airstrikes in Afghanistan after 18 civilians were killed in an attack last week, the Los Angeles Times reported.

NATO forces say they will not bomb residential buildings to hunt down the Taliban, in an agreement that was reached after NATO Afghan commander Gen. John Allen and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met on Saturday, according to the Times. 

International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) will continue to pursue insurgents in residential buildings, ISAF spokesman Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings told the Times, "but when there is concern over the presence of civilians, air-delivered bombs will not be employed while other means are available."

The move to restrict airstrikes is the latest attempt by Karzai to limit NATO operations and assert Afghan sovereignty, as U.S. and NATO troops plan to withdraw and hand off security control to the Afghans by 2014 and allow Afghans to take the lead in combat operations next year. 

Ahead of a strategic partnership agreement signed by President Obama and Karzai last month, the United States agreed to hand off control of night raids and military detention facilities to the Afghans.

The airstrike restrictions stem from a bombing last Wednesday in Afghanistan's Logar province that killed 18 civilians, including women and children. Karzai denounced the strikes and complained that NATO did not consult with the Afghans before proceeding. Allen on Friday apologized for the killings during a visit he made to the region.

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