At least 64 civilians have been killed in joint NATO-Afghan operations in the eastern Kunar province over the past four days, provincial governor says.
Fazlullah Wahidi Governor of Kunar province said Sunday that many of the victims of the ground and air raids on Ghazi Abad district were women and children, a Press TV correspondent reported.
NATO said it is investigating reports that several civilians may have been injured, adding, however, that it is not aware of any civilian deaths.
Civilian casualties in US-led military operations have long been a source of friction between the Afghan government and NATO.
2010 was the deadliest year for Afghan civilians since the US-led invasion almost a decade ago. An estimated 2,400 civilians were killed last year by both US-led forces and militants.
The surge in violence comes despite the presence of 150,000 foreign troops, which are engaged in the so-called war on terrorism. The war in Afghanistan, with civilian and military casualties at record highs, has become the longest war in US history.
Source: Press TV