Karzai Restricts Foreign Airstrikes

President Karzai will soon issue a decree forbidding Afghan National Army (ANA) forces from asking for air strikes or close air support from ISAF. This decree comes on the heels of an airstrike recently conducted in Shigal district, Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan where it is reported several civilians were killed. The restriction on use of foreign air strikes will limit the amount of support Afghan infantry will be provided during pitched battles with insurgents. The ANA will need to rely even more heavily on its newly developed and still learning Afghan artillery units. Read more in "Karzai to Forbid Afghan Forces From Requesting Foreign Airstrikes", The New York Times, February 16, 2013.