Coordination to help reduce civilian deaths: ISAF

KABUL (PAN): NATO does not want jihadi groups to take part in the drive against terrorism in the war-battered Central Asian country to avoid a lack of coordination and chaotic situations on the battlefield.
A new NATO spokesman, in an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, said he had no accurate information about the counterinsurgency training mujahideen had received.
Brig. Gen. Richard V. Blanchette said they were supporting the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the international campaign against terror. The transatlantic military alliance, he added, welcomed all those willing to serve under the ANA.
"We are well aware of the standards ANA soldiers have, but dont know to what extent mujahideen meet those standards, the spokesman argued. The statement came days after jihadi leaders sought a greater role in the government and in the fight against terror.
Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, Hezb-i-Daawat-i-Islami chief, told a gathering in Kabul earlier this week: If it is not for mujahideen, none else can defeat Taliban and other insurgent groups." He was addressing a function that marked the 7th death anniversary of Ahmed Shah Masood on Sept. 8.
The NATO spokesman said they attended a grand meeting with all Afghan and ISAF commanders, including David D. McKiernan and the Afghan chief of staff on better coordinating efforts against guerrillas.
They would not ask for air support when they feared huge civilian casualties at the operation site, Blanchette promised. "There are exceptions at times when we come under enemy fire and have no other choice we use air raid which could risk civilian losses" ISAF spokesman said.
They would prefer to retreat from the battlefield to avoid losses of innocent lives rather than air strike, NATO commander recently said. "We admit that mistakes could occur during air strikes that cause civilian deaths but mostly civilian deaths are caused by wrong tactics of the enemy who use residents as human shields."
Civilian deaths were worst experience for NATO troops during operations and we never want it to happen because ISAF soldiers are in Afghanistan to provide security and serve the people.
Asked what could minimise the collateral damage, the ISAF spokesman replied more coordination between the forces involved in counter-insurgency operations.
How people could be prevented swelling the ranks of militants, he was asked. And his pat reply was: Most militants sneaked into Afghanistan from the other side of the border.
Blanchette believed joint efforts by Afghanistan, Pakistan and ISAF could defeat the ongoing insurgency. In addition to the military struggle, he stressed that reconstruction at a good clip and good governance were needed to curb militancy.
Although the security situation had worsened over the last four years, the ISAF spokesman said, Afghanistan had seen progress in terms of reconstruction and governance "There are many reasons behind the worsening situation and one of them is training, equipping, recruitment, planning and safe havens of terrorists on the other side of the border."