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Afghanistan observer sees disappointment

24 February 2010 04:55 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. As the top NATO commander in Afghanistan publicly apologized for the latest civilian deaths in the war, one of his former advisers said Tuesday the Afghan people have "crystallized their frustration" on the issue of civilian casualties, APA reports citing CNN.

"It’s crystallized a disappointment with the international intervention that’s been growing since about 2003," said Sarah Chayes, who just completed one year of service as an adviser to Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his staff in Kabul.

"I actually think the issue is broader," she told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. "And so the impact on the Marjah (offensive) is really going to depend on what else happens in that operation."

Chayes was referring to the joint U.S., British, and Afghan offensive in Helmand province in which 15,000 troops are trying to take control of a town and the surrounding area from Taliban fighters.

Despite military efforts to avoid civilian casualties, several dozen have been killed recently by NATO bullets and bombs. In the past two weeks alone, more than 50 Afghan civilians are believed to have been killed in more than half a dozen U.S. and NATO military operations.

McChrystal on Tuesday released a video message to the Afghan population apologizing for an incident Sunday in which 27 civilians were killed in an air strike.

"I have made it clear to our forces that we are here to protect the Afghan people," he said. "I pledge to strengthen our efforts to regain your trust to build a brighter future for all Afghans."