ISAF airstrike kills 16 in Paktia

GARDEZ (PAN) airstrike in southeastern Paktia province, an official claimed on Sunday.

The NATO-led force happened in Wazi Zadran district late on Friday, deputy police chief for Paktia Col. Mohammad Zaman told Pajhwok Afghan News.

At least eight Pakistani insurgents were among the fatalities, Zaman said, adding that he did not have accurate information about the target of the air raid.

A tribal elder, Sardar Khan Zadran, said the strike in Ali Madkhel area had killed 16 young boys who had gone to mountains to collect pine nuts (jalghoza).  

Another four boys were wounded, according to the elder, who insisted not a single fighter was among the dead. The injured were evacuated to a hospital in neighbouring Khost province.

Approached for comments on the incident, the ISAF media office in Kabul said it had no information about the strike in Paktia.

mud

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