Civilian Airstrike Deaths Probed

This Afghan boy was among a large group of civilians injured or killed by a coalition airstrike as they walked in a wedding party, government officials said. (By Nesar Ahmad -- Associated Press)

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"We are working very closely with our international friends. We would like the incidences of civilian casualties brought to an absolute minimum," said the spokesman, Humayun Hamidzada.

An estimated 698 civilians were killed in the first six months of this year, compared with 430 during the same period last year, the United Nations says. Of those, 255 were killed by NATO forces.

According to a count in a forthcoming report from Human Rights Watch, airstrikes alone have been responsible for 119 civilian deaths this year.

Civilian casualties from airstrikes are a particularly prevalent issue in a war where low NATO troop numbers on the ground combine with difficult and in some areas impassable terrain to create a heavy dependency on air power. Western and Afghan officials agree that the growing reliance on air cover has in some cases served to undermine the public image of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

"It's an easy tool for the hands of the Taliban. Whenever there's an airstrike, the first person who calls and gives exaggerated numbers and information is the Taliban spokesman," Nadery said. "That certainly feeds into the negative feelings that Afghans have about foreign forces operating here."

Mark Laity, a spokesman for NATO in Afghanistan, said the coalition is working hard to adhere to the strict protocols on airstrikes. He said Taliban propaganda on civilian casualties has been effective.

"If we don't drop a bomb, they win because they're protected and can remain in the area. If we do drop a bomb and there are civilian casualties, then they win because they can say that we are here to rape, pillage and plunder," Laity said.

Investigations into the three airstrikes could take months to complete.

Staff researcher Julie Tate in Washington contributed to this report.