U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has urged Pakistan to take action against insurgents who attack U.S. forces in Afghanistan, saying the United States is "reaching the limit" of its patience.Speaking Thursday in Kabul after meeting with Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, Panetta said terrorist "safe havens" in Pakistan are an increasing concern.
Panetta traveled to Afghanistan to discuss the war with military officials, including the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. General John Allen.
Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said a NATO airstrike Wednesday in Logar province killed 18 civilians. In a statement Thursday, Karzai said any airstrike that kills civilians or damages their property is not justified or acceptable.
NATO said Wednesday it takes allegations of civilian casualties seriously and has launched an investigation.
The U.S.-led coalition initially said that "multiple insurgents" were killed during Wednesday's operation, but did not mention any civilian deaths. It said the airstrike came after insurgents fired on a joint Afghan-coalition force that was trying to detain the Taliban leader.
Karzai, who said Thursday he is cutting short a trip to China, has repeatedly criticized international forces for causing civilian casualties. Last week, he ordered a probe into a coalition airstrike that Afghan officials said killed a family of eight in the eastern province of Paktia.
Continued violence has raised concerns about the ability of Afghan forces to handle security beyond 2014, when most NATO forces are planning to conclude their combat role.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.