NATO says review reducing Afghan civilian casualties

The various pledges to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan have given rise to this statistically based rebuttal by NATO. Improved procedures and coordination are apparently the reasons for which civilian casualties have declined. Sadly, the ISAF statistics from ISAF are classified, so no proof could be provided.

Meanwhile, a communications breakdown between US troops and Afghan security forces led to a mistaken air strike of a government checkpoint, killing 8 Afghan police officers.

Update: The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), an umbrella of more than 90 humanitarian and development NGOs released the following statement that re-opened criticism of multinational forces operating in Afghanistan:

"We strongly condemn the operations and force protection measures carried out by international military forces in which disproportionate or indiscriminate use of force has resulted in civilian casualties..."