THE commander of US-led forces in Afghanistan says he will comply with President Hamid Karzai's order banning Afghan security forces from seeking NATO air support.
Karzai said on Saturday he would issue a decree ordering an end to local security forces calling in NATO air strikes amid new tensions over civilian casualties caused by such attacks.
Air strikes have been an important weapon in the fight against Taliban insurgents, but they have also proved hugely controversial as they have led to numerous civilian deaths.
US General Joseph Dunford, who took charge of the US-led NATO force in the war-battered country last Sunday, said he was prepared to comply with Karzai's order, made after a NATO air raid killed 10 civilians including women and children in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday night.
"We are prepared to provide support in line with the president's intent," Dunford told reporters in Kabul on Sunday.
Karzai summoned Dunford over the air raid in Kunar province.
"I get the broad guidance from the president and we will work out the details in the coming days," Dunford said.
"We have restraints and constraints on each operation. I believe we will continue to support the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and meet the president's intent," Dunford said in response to questions about Karzai's order.
"There are other ways to support the Afghans besides aviation," he said.
Afghanistan's own poorly equipped air force has no fixed-wing attack aircraft and is not capable of providing firepower to support ground troops.
A Western security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new ban would make the fight against the militants much harder.
"If air strikes are eventually banned, it's a good victory for the Taliban - without air power you have to chase after them," he told AFP.
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