THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY URGED CLOSER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCES AND THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO PREVENT CIVILIAN DEATHS IN MILITARY OPERATIONS, ACCORDING TO DPA. THE 15-NATION COUNCIL ISSUED A STATEMENT AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN WHICH US AND INTERNATIONAL FORCES UNDER NATO IN AFGHANISTAN INFLICTED HEAVY CIVILIAN CASUALTIES WHILE THEY CONDUCTED AIRSTRIKES AGAINST TALIBAN TARGETS. "THE SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES ITS CONCERN ABOUT ALL CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND REITERATES ITS CALL FOR ALL FEASIBLE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIAN LIFE, AND FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAW TO BE UPHELD," THE STATEMENT SAID. IT SAID THE INTERNATIONAL FORCES, WHICH PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT, SHOULD COOPERATE WITH KABUL TO "PROMOTE AWARENESS OF LOCAL CULTURE AND TRADITION, WHICH IS USEFUL IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR TASKS." THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF), COMPOSED OF THOUSANDS OF NATO TROOPS, HAS BEEN ASSISTING KABUL ON SECURITY MATTERS AND IN TRAINING AN AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCE. US MILITARY FORCES SEPARATELY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE MASTERMIND OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. THE COUNCIL MET TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND GIVE SUPPORT TO ISAF AS WELL AS THE US COALITION FORCE'S OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DEALING SINCE 2001 WITH THREATS BY TALIBAN FORCES, BIN LADEN'S AL QAEDA AND TERRORIST GROUPS.
