Roadside bombs kill 3 NATO troops on first day of Afghan loya jirga

[News_Editor]

Roadside bombs kill 3 NATO troops on first day of Afghan loya jirga

2011-11-16 19:12:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- Three coalition service members were killed on Wednesday as a result of two separate bomb blasts in southern Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed.

ISAF said three of its service members were killed as a result of two separate improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in Afghanistan's south. But as usual, the multinational force gave no other details about the incidents, including the exact locations.

The nationalities of the service members were also not immediately disclosed by ISAF. "It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities," a brief statement said.

The attacks happened on the first day of a three-day loya jirga in Kabul, a grand assembly of more than 2,000 delegates from around the country to discuss Afghanistan's future relationship with the United States. It also includes talks about possible negotiations with the Taliban.

However, in a statement released on Monday, a Taliban spokesman strongly condemned the loya jirga. The statement fueled fears of Afghan officials and those attending the loya jirga that the militant group may be planning attacks to disrupt it.

"We believe the Afghan crisis will only find an end when our nation thwarts the Strategic Partnership of the invaders and their mercenaries under the disguise of Loya Jirga and their other plans, brings the ongoing occupation to an end and fulfill their duty of bringing about an independent, proud and peaceful Afghanistan," the Taliban said in the statement.

It added: "Those people who approve permanent American bases under the banner of the upcoming so-called Loya Jirga will be considered as national traitors and will be deserving of harsh penalties and their names will be written down alongside the slaves and nation sellers like [19th century Afghan Emir] Shah Shuja, [1980s President] Babrak Karmal and [incumbent President] Karzai."

There are currently more than 130,000 ISAF troops in Afghanistan, including some 90,000 U.S. troops and more than 9,500 British soldiers. U.S. President Barack Obama previously ordered a drawdown of 10,000 American troops later this year, with another 23,000 U.S. troops to return home next year.

Coalition casualties in Afghanistan have been rising sharply in recent years with a total coalition death toll of 709 in 2010, making it the deadliest year for international troops since the war began in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

So far this year, at least 525 coalition service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Most of the casualties are American and are killed in the country's restive south, which is plagued by IED attacks on troops and civilians.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-16