Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Military Space News .




THE STANS
Afghan suspect blames US commandos for civilian murders
by Staff Writers
Kabul (AFP) July 16, 2013


An Afghan accused of torturing and murdering civilians while working for US special forces denies the charges and says he followed American orders, according to a report obtained by AFP on Tuesday.

Zakrya Kandahari, who worked as an interpreter, was arrested by Afghanistan's premier intelligence agency around six weeks ago.

According to a copy of an investigation report confirmed as authentic by a security official, intelligence agents have a video showing Kandahari beating a prisoner.

Afghan authorities are investigating allegations that armed Afghans working with US special forces harassed, tortured and murdered civilians in Wardak province, a Taliban flashpoint on the doorstep of Kabul.

President Hamid Karzai ordered US special forces to leave Wardak in February, although a compromise deal later announced that they would leave only Nerkh, one of eight districts in Wardak and the district where Kandahari worked.

"Zakrya himself has denied the accusations, saying he was under the command of others," said a copy of the report obtained by AFP.

Instead he blamed the murders on three Americans, whom he named as Dave, Hagen and Chris, and whom he said were fluent in Afghanistan's two main languages Dari and Pashto.

"'I was simply a low-rank translator and did not have authorisation to roam around inside the base, or (go) to interrogation sections," the report quoted Kandahari as saying.

Kandahari told interrogators that he had worked for foreigners for nine years, most recently as an interpreter for US special forces in Nerkh.

Though he denies torturing, he did admit to "slapping" and "kicking" the detainee allegedly shown in the video reportedly obtained by Afghan intelligence agents, according to the report.

He said "Dave" asked him to collect the suspect from the Afghan army in Nerkh.

"I went to their office, took the prisoner who was speaking rudely and slapped him several times in front of others and transferred him for further investigation to our own camp," the report quoted him as saying.

"I kicked him several times while taking him to the base and handed him over to Mr Dave and Mr Hagen at at around 5pm," it says.

He was quoted as saying that at around 9pm he saw the detainee's body "in a black plastic bag inside a tent" and that four other Afghan translators also witnessed that.

Zakrya was picked up in the southern city of Kandahar, the spiritual capital of the Taliban, and moved to Kabul for interrogation.

US investigations have found "no credible evidence" to substantiate any allegations of abuse by either NATO or US forces, a military spokesman told AFP on Tuesday.

But the military is co-operating with the Afghan government and US Army criminal investigators are also looking into the claims, said Lieutenant Colonel Will Griffin from the US-led NATO force.

"The allegations were taken very seriously and we just want to ensure that every possible outcome is thoroughly investigated," Griffin told AFP.

.


Related Links
News From Across The Stans






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








THE STANS
First Pakistani women paratroopers make history
Islamabad (AFP) July 14, 2013
Pakistan's first group of female paratroopers completed their training on Sunday, the military announced, hailing it as a "landmark achievement" for the deeply conservative Muslim country. Captain Kiran Ashraf was declared the best paratrooper of the batch of 24, the military said in a statement, while Captain Sadia, referred to by one name, became the first woman officer to jump from a MI- ... read more


THE STANS
Missile plan to go ahead despite test failure: US

US missile defense test fails: Pentagon

U.S. space-based missile alert system moves forward

Lockheed Martin Delivers Third SBIRS HEO Satellite Payload To USAF

THE STANS
Lockheed Martin Completes Captive Carry Tests with LRASM

Saudis targeting Iran, Israel with missiles: defence group

IMI develops air-launched missile that sounds familiar

Israel's Livni to visit Moscow 'over Syria S-300 plans'

THE STANS
US drone strike kills two militants in Pakistan

Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Complete First Arrested Landing of a Tailless Unmanned Aircraft Aboard an Aircraft Carrier

US drone lands on carrier deck in historic flight

Report reveals Pakistan-US 'understanding' on drones

THE STANS
Northrop Grumman Moves New B-2 Satellite Communications Concept to the High Ground

Canada links up on secure U.S. military telecoms network

Lockheed Martin-Built MUOS Satellite Encapsulated In Launch Vehicle Payload Fairing

Northrop Grumman, MILSATCOM Conduct Preliminary Design Review of Enhanced Polar System Control and Planning Segment

THE STANS
Wearable computers could let service dogs communicate with masters

Qatar to order 118 German battle tanks: report

Pentagon begins furloughs for 650,000 civilians

Cyprus ex-defence minister, 3 others guilty over blast

THE STANS
Why Russia is still India's best bet for defense procurement despite problems

If you're looking for a cut-rate F-16 or a Merkava tank

Hagel warns Congress of drastic US defense cuts in '140

France minister in UAE for defence talks

THE STANS
Putin observes Russian war games on China, Japan doorstep

Should the West be afraid of Moscow's plans for a Eurasian Union?

US-China military ties making 'progress': admiral

Iran's Ahmadinejad to visit Iraq: spokesman

THE STANS
Efficient Production Process for Coveted Nanocrystals

Ingested nanoparticle toxicity

Quantum engines must break down

Nanotechnology holds big potential for NMSU faculty




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement