NATO announced Friday it would kick off an investigation of an airstrike that killed a child and injured two women in Afghanistan, leading an angry President Hamid Karzai to threaten the United States with a halt to all security talks.
The United States has been trying to forge an agreement with Mr. Karzai for months to address a security pact that’s tied to America’s troop withdrawal. The latest go-around of talks saw Mr. Karzai delay any deal until April — when his presidential term ends, The Associated Press reported. But at least he agreed to come back to the table to talk.
His latest threat would put a stop to even those planned discussions.
“For as long as such arbitrary acts and oppression of foreign forces continue the security agreement with the United States will not be signed,” Mr. Karzai said, The New York Times reported.
The drone strike, carried out by NATO — which is led by the United States — took place on Thursday. Also killed in the attack was one insurgent in the Helmand province, located in the southern region of Afghanistan. NATO apologized for the civilians who were hurt and killed, AP said.
The International Security Assistance Forces is the group leading up the investigation.
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• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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