NATO agrees to curb Afghan airstrikes

{mosads}The move to restrict airstrikes is the latest attempt by Karzai to limit NATO operations and assert Afghan sovereignty, as U.S. and NATO troops plan to withdraw and hand off security control to the Afghans by 2014 and allow Afghans to take the lead in combat operations next year. 

Ahead of a strategic partnership agreement signed by President Obama and Karzai last month, the United States agreed to hand off control of night raids and military detention facilities to the Afghans.

The airstrike restrictions stem from a bombing last Wednesday in Afghanistan’s Logar province that killed 18 civilians, including women and children. Karzai denounced the strikes and complained that NATO did not consult with the Afghans before proceeding. Allen on Friday apologized for the killings during a visit he made to the region.