The US-led airstrike occurred on Saturday in the Watapur district of Kunar province, which lies near the border with Pakistan.

A NATO spokeswoman said that only enemy forces were killed in the operation.

But a statement from Karzai’s office said that according to Provincial Governor Shujaul Mulk Jalala a vehicle was targeted by the airstrike that killed “16 civilians including women and children.”

The statement added that the Afghan president considers attacking women and children “against all accepted international norms and strongly condemns it.”

Kunar Police Chief Abdul Habib Sayedkhil also said that the deadly attack targeted a pickup truck carrying women and children and killed all on board.

Meanwhile, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the military alliance is investigating the incident.

“We can confirm Coalition Forces' conducted a precision strike yesterday... resulting in 10 enemy forces killed,” ISAF said in a statement.

Civilian killings at the hands of US-led forces have been a source of tension between Kabul and Washington in recent years. The attacks have also increased anti-American sentiment among Afghans, who hold regular protests to condemn them.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.

The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.

SHI/SHI