Probe on reports of mistreatment US Forces
26 February, 2013
KABUL: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman General Gunter Katz has said they were investigating the reports about the mistreatment of American Special Forces in Wardak province. Addressing a pres conference in Kabul on Monday, General Katz said they would conduct the investigation with full collaboration of the Afghan forces. "We have received reports about the American Special Forces harassing people in Wardak. We are striving to find facts. There are allegations that the American Special Forces have beaten up and tortured people. We don't have proofs for these accusations but we are conducting investigation," General Katz said. The Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently said in a meeting of the National Security Council that the American Special Forces were harassing people. He directed the Ministry and Defence to kick out the American Special Forces from Wardak within two weeks and deploy Afghan forces in the province. General Katz, however, did not say whether the directives of President Hamid Karzai would be implemented. He said the Afghan forces were strong enough to maintain security of the country, including Wardak province. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence said the Afghan forces were all-set to replace the American Special Forces in Wardak. Talking to the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), a defence ministry spokesman General Daulat Waziri said it was necessary to oust American Special Forces from Wardak as President Hamid Karzai has directed to do so. "We are responsible to implement the orders of President. The American Special Forces must leave Wardak in two weeks. I believe the foreign forces will obey the orders of President Hamid Karzai. The Ministry of Defence will implement the president's order. We are capable of maintaining law and order of the province," he added. The Wardak provincial assembly chairman Rafiullah Wardak told the AIP they had repeatedly complained to the high-ranking officials in Kabul about the mistreatment of American Special Forces. He said the people welcomed the president's orders and were ready to cooperate with the Afghan forces to maintain law and order of the province. End.
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