In memory of

Karim Jan, 15-yr-old brother

9 other civilians

died in the night of May 16/17, 2002

in the village of Balkheyl (Bal Khel), 25 kms northwest of Khost in Paktia Province near Mt. Stirmaska. A wedding was in-progress in the village. As is customary in such events in Afghanistan, people began firing in the air in celebration. U.S planes detected the firing and called-in other war planes which proceeded to bomb the village area. At least 10 civilians reportedly were killed (according to the Agence France-Presse), including Rahim Jan’s 15-year-old brother. The terrified residents remained confined in their homes out of fear, not removing bodies and waiting for some hours afterwards to evacuate the injured to a hospital.

A U.S AC-130 war plane and a F-16 fighter jet