Commander ISAF makes statement

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

02.21.2012

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

Kabul, Afghanistan - Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, today issued the following
statement:

To the noble people of Afghanistan -

I have ordered an investigation into a report I received during the night that ISAF personnel at Bagram Airbase improperly disposed of a large number of Islamic religious materials which includedQurans.

When we learned of these actions, we immediately intervened and stopped them. The materials recovered will be properly handled by appropriate religious authorities.

We are thoroughly investigating the incident and we are taking steps to ensure this does not ever happen again.I assure you... I promise you ... this was NOT intentional in any way.

I offer my sincere apologies for any offense this may have caused, to the president of Afghanistan, the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and most importantly, to the noble people of Afghanistan.

I would like to thank the local Afghan people who helped us identify the error, and who worked with us to immediately take corrective action.

Manana, Tashkur.

• Date Taken: 02.21.2012
• Date Posted: 02.21.2012 01:39
• Story ID: 84096
• Location: KABUL, AF