Kunar officials, coalition forces work together to investigate Asadabad attack

KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

06.11.2009

Story by Lt.j.g. James Dietle 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Coalition forces met with Afghan leaders June 10 to discuss an explosion that occurred in Asadabad city the previous day.

The Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Kunar governor reviewed the coalition's most recent findings, which included grenade fragments and a video of the attack from an unmanned aerial vehicle.

This evidence, which has been publically released by coalition forces, demonstrated to both Governor Sayed Wahidi and General Jalal, Kunar's head of police, that coalition forces were not responsible for the explosion.

"We have conducted this investigation after the attack very quickly and carefully. I have checked and all the grenades held by coalition members are accounted for. We know that none of them fired their weapons during the attack. I have shown you video of the event verifying that I am telling the truth of both accounts," said Navy Cmdr. Murray Tynch, commander of Provisional Reconstruction Team Kunar.

Afghan and coalition officials jointly presented their findings to the village elders of the Asadabad area.

"These are your people, these are my people, show them the truth and they will listen and believe you. It is your responsibility," stated Wahidi after giving them copies of the reports and findings.

The final event was a press conference with both local and international media to see the video and the Russian grenade fragments discovered at the scene.

Tynch narrated the video footage for the local Afghan leaders through a Pashto interpreter and explained what was happening in the video.

"Based on the evidence I have seen the grenade that was used in the attack is definitely of Russian design and not U.S.," said Wahidi. "All documents show only the facts about the explosion and no eye witness saw a coalition member throw a grenade."

During the outdoor press interviews, Tynch spoke on the current situation in Asadabad.

"This indiscriminate attack on the citizens of Asadabad is the second in two weeks. Asadabad was recently targeted by mortars that killed two and wounded 13. These attacks are not being conducted against coalition forces, but against innocent Afghans. We need your help to stop them [the attacks] from happening," Tynch explained.

"Some of the early reporting seems to be wrong," said Wahidi as the Press conference ended. "Here is what we know now. We know there was a blast. We know from evidence that I have seen that it was a Russian F1 grenade. There was no small arms fire. We have seen footage that shows coalition forces did not attack or provoke our citizens. As we continue to investigate to find the perpetrators of this attack we will keep everyone informed on the event."

• Date Taken: 06.11.2009
• Date Posted: 06.11.2009 13:32
• Story ID: 34904
• Location: KUNAR PROVINCE, AF