At least seven members of one family were killed in an airstrike carried out by Afghan forces in Khost province, residents claimed. Government officials have rejected the claim.

They called on government to investigate the incident and punish the perpetrators.

The victims were laid to rest on Thursday.

The victims’ family claimed that the airstrike was carried out in Ali Sher district in Khost.

“Five brothers have been martyred in the airstrike, another is my nephew. He was living with me. And another is my cousin,” said Alijan Koshi, member of the family. 

“Tell us who we are and to which country we belong? I swear to God that the seven people who have been martyred were not Taliban. They were ordinary people. They went there to visit their friends and families, but someone came and reported their presence for some dollars,” said Haji Gulmarjan Faroodqi, head of Kochis Council in Khost.

The security officer of Khost Police Headquarters confirmed that military operation from air and ground was carried out in Bati Tana village in Ali Sher district against anti-government armed militants. 

However, he did not confirm civilian casualties in the operation. He said a team has been sent to the district to probe the incident.

This comes after Afghan and foreign forces have increased their airstrikes against militants in different parts of the country.