Top General in Afghanistan Condemns Use of Child Suicide Bombers

Posted February 14th, 2012 at 3:35 pm (UTC-5)
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The commander of international forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Corps General John Allen, has condemned the use by insurgents of children as suicide bombers.

General Allen Tuesday said “the cold tactic of using any human being — especially children — to conduct suicide attacks is utterly despicable.”

Allen was responding to the most recent case, in which Afghan National Security Forces in the southern city of Kandahar arrested two young male prospective suicide bombers during an operation to counter insurgent violence. Afghan President Hamid Karzai pardoned the same boys last August for the same crime.

General Allen said that by promoting child suicide attacks, the insurgency has forfeited any remaining support it may have had with the Afghan people. He added that the international community stands side by side with the Afghan people to do everything possible to eliminate suicide bombers of any age from cities, towns and villages across the country.

In other news, joint Afghan-coalition patrols captured three Taliban leaders during operations in central Wardak and southern Helmand provinces Tuesday. A NATO statement said the captured leaders directed attacks against government officials and roadside bomb attacks, and acquired and built homemade bombs for use in attacks.