Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has defended U.S. military operations in Afghanistan as having "a significant impact," following criticism from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
In an interview published on November 14, Karzai said that he wanted the U.S. military to reduce its visibility, which he said incited Afghans to join the insurgency.
Today Clinton said the United States was taking into consideration Karzai's objections, but that U.S. tactics had proven successful.
"There is no question that [precision-targeted operations] are having a significant impact on the insurgent leadership and the networks that they operate," Clinton said.
"And we remain very sensitive to the concern. So there have been revisions in the tactical directives that recognize the sensitivity of conducting night operations."
Earlier, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. General David Petraeus, expressed "astonishment and disappointment" with Karzai's call to "reduce military operations."
compiled from agency reports
In an interview published on November 14, Karzai said that he wanted the U.S. military to reduce its visibility, which he said incited Afghans to join the insurgency.
Today Clinton said the United States was taking into consideration Karzai's objections, but that U.S. tactics had proven successful.
"There is no question that [precision-targeted operations] are having a significant impact on the insurgent leadership and the networks that they operate," Clinton said.
"And we remain very sensitive to the concern. So there have been revisions in the tactical directives that recognize the sensitivity of conducting night operations."
Earlier, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. General David Petraeus, expressed "astonishment and disappointment" with Karzai's call to "reduce military operations."
compiled from agency reports
