Amid torture allegations, Karzai orders U.S. to leave Afghan province

Afghanistan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi speaks during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. / AP Photo/Ahmad Nazar

Updated 3:35 a.m. EST Feb. 25

KABUL, Afghanistan Afghanistan's president ordered all U.S. special forces to leave a strategically important eastern province within two weeks because of allegations that Afghans working with them are torturing and abusing other Afghans.

The decision Sunday seems to have surprised the coalition and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, a separate command. Americans have frequently angered the Afghan public over issues ranging from Qurans burned at a U.S. base to allegations of civilian killings.

"We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and go to great lengths to determine the facts surrounding them," the U.S. forces said in a statement, adding, "So far, we could not find evidence that would support these allegations."

• Afghans accuse U.S. special forces of being involved in torture
• U.S. vets suffering alone in guilt over wartime events

Also Sunday, a series of attacks in eastern Afghanistan showed insurgents remain on the offensive even as U.S. and other international forces prepare to end their combat mission by the end of 2014.

An Afghan intelligence officer, center, tries to turn on a vehicle used by an insurgent, who was killed by security forces, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013.

/ AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq

Suicide bombers targeted Afghanistan's intelligence agency and other security forces in four coordinated attacks in the heart of Kabul and outlying areas in a bloody reminder of the insurgency's reach nearly 12 years into the war.

Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said the decision to order the American special forces to leave Wardak province was taken during a meeting of the National Security Council because of the alleged actions of Afghans who are considered linked to the U.S. special forces.

He said all special forces operations were to cease immediately in the restive province next to Kabul, which is viewed as a gateway to the capital and has been the focus of counterinsurgency efforts in recent years.

The Taliban have staged numerous attacks against U.S.-led coalition forces in the province. In August 2011, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter, killing 30 American troops, mostly elite Navy SEALs, in Wardak. The crash was the single deadliest loss for U.S. forces in the war.

Afghan forces have taken the lead in many such special operations, especially so-called night raids.

"Those Afghans in these armed groups who are working with the U.S. special forces, the defense minister asked for an explanation of who they are," Faizi said. "Those individuals should be handed over to the Afghan side so that we can further investigate."

A statement the security council issued in English said the armed individuals have allegedly been "harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people."

Ceasing all such operations could have a negative impact on the coalition's campaign to go after Taliban leaders and commanders, who are usually the target of such operations.

Faizi said the issue had already been brought up with the coalition.

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The U.S. statement said only that the announcement was "an important issue that we intend to fully discuss with our Afghan counterparts. But until we have had a chance to speak with senior Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials about this issue, we are not in a position to comment further."

The brazen assaults, which occurred within a three-hour timespan, were the latest to strike Afghan forces, who have suffered higher casualties this year as U.S. and other foreign troops gradually take a back seat and shift responsibility for security to the government.

The deadliest attack occurred just after sunrise - a suicide car bombing at the gate of the National Directorate of Security compound in Jalalabad, 125 kilometers (78 miles) east of Kabul.

Guards shot and killed the driver but he managed to detonate the explosives-packed vehicle, killing two intelligence agents and wounding three others, according to a statement by the intelligence agency. Provincial government spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai confirmed the casualty toll and said the building was damaged in the attack.

A guard also shot and killed a man in an SUV filled with dynamite that was targeting an NDS building on a busy street in Kabul, not far from NATO headquarters. The explosives in the back of the vehicle were defused. Blood stained the driver's seat and the ground where security forces dragged out the would-be attacker.

Shortly before the Jalalabad attack, a suicide attacker detonated a minivan full of explosives at a police checkpoint in Pul-i-Alam on the main highway between Kabul and Logar province. One policeman was killed and two others were wounded, along with a bystander, according to the NDS.

Also in Logar province, which is due south of Kabul, a man wearing a suicide vest was stopped by police as he tried to force his way into the police headquarters for Baraki Barak district, said Din Mohammad Darwesh, the provincial government spokesman. The attacker detonated his vest while being searched, wounding one policeman, according to Darwesh and the NDS.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the Jalalabad attack and two others in the eastern province of Logar in an email to reporters. He did not address the attempted assault in Kabul.

[fulldisclosure]

The following filthy pigs at AFRL were involved in the psychological aspects of one of the most sadistic illegal experimentation/torture programs in U.S. History: Chet Maciag, Colonel Lamar Parker, Lt. Col Bill Gregory. Air Force, crimes against humanity, treason, setups, illegal use of surveillance: http://usgovt-atrocities.com

[MALL727net]

We no longer need to be there, we no longer need to give support and we should get out of there and stop any funding to Pakistan - we have more problems on the domestic front - lets just take this opportunity and just leave!

[dawncarter2011]

Yeah, evil United States, we show local farmers how to irrigate and grow food, instead of drugs, to support their villages and families...we give them money to help fight the Taliban, we give them troop lives in support of freedom of the country--and what does Karzai do? Bad mouth the US and tell us to get out? Sure. Let's leave. Let me guess that our news doesn't cover the mass killing by the Taliban of the civilian population. How many do they kill a day? 20, 50, 1000 kids? They kill thousands more than any Unmanned craft--but the US doesn't hear about it. Sad. And they grow poppy instead of food so their families don't get killed by the Taliban...but the US is the bad guy??? Trying to help people? Whatever.

[BobDee45]

CBS needs another "Cronkite Moment" when Wally declared the Vietnam War lost with the resultant loss of popular support for the effort to defeat Communism. CBS should find Wally's replacement; have him make the same statement (helmut and all) this time regarding Afghanistan; and have the US get the Hell out of that hellhole.

[steve real]

How is Hamid Karzai and the Pakistani ISI going to make any money off the Taliban narco-trade if US Special Forces keeps putting a stop to their operations? It's just not good for anybody's wallet to stop the flow of opium between this triad of corruption. Just can't have it.

[ReasonableVoicesAmongUs]

I am fed up with this guy. Let's leave. Now.

[dawncarter2011]

Indeed. I can't believe we are still messing around with him, and the whole country really. I agree, leave NOW...since whenever we "threaten" to leave Karkazi changes his tune, and all of a sudden we are totally necessary to the economy and welfare of the country. Well, we don't need to impress the world with our political ties & powers & prowess. We need to show this guy that WE can't be sold to the Taliban, even if he is. Leave him in the dust. He is just like someone on welfare for 10 years, he wants us if he can get money, but he doesn't think the rules apply to him. He will get his people killed. If we are gone at least they won't blame us for his stupidity.

[dontknowitall]

What's next. Obama orders all legal American out of America?

[dawncarter2011]

Totally. I wouldn't be surprised if legal Americans had to leave...or pay MORE taxes. Look, I love our system, and it's not perfect, but we have to show some backbone. And understand that those that pay LOTS of taxes are pissed off that we don't.

[ammo17]

this country has never i repeat never backed the right dictator in any country we have tried to change into a democracy.

[USMCVNvet]

The US Gov. should not be letting a crooked politician control our troops, our military once again is supposed to fight a war with their hands tied behind their backs. We should never commit our troops again without the President's pledge that they will be allowed to "fight to win". This administrations policies are not conducive to winning this war. Pull all the troops out now.

[thechooch1]

USMCVNvet "This administrations policies are not conducive to winning this war." It wasn't this administration that got us in this mess and failed to fight to win. But at least your President is getting us out of this the longest war in American history.

[quincytodd]

I completely agree, Usmcvvet. We sorely need to get ALL the troops out of Afghanistan once and for all. More, we need to restore the 1973 War Powers Act and stop jumping into all these useless and unnecessary wars!

[johnlockesghost]

I see, our troops are guilty because somebody says they're guilty. No trial, no discussion, just do whatever this idiot says we should do. Our response is to leave Afghanistan to wallow in their criminal culture and withdraw completely destroying anything of value that may be left behind, including all of their poppy fields.

[dawncarter2011]

Grow food, not poppies. Don't get it twisted, the Afghan farmers are not able to prosper under the Taliban.