President Hamid Karzai criticised the US-led coalition's anti-terror campaign, saying the deaths of hundreds of Afghans, including Taliban militants, was unacceptable and that his government needs more help.
Karzai's sharp assessment came as Osama bin Laden's deputy urged Afghans to revolt against coalition forces, and four more US Soldiers are killed.
More than four years after US-led forces toppled the extremist Taliban government, the country is gripped by its deadliest spate of post-invasion violence.
To try curbing the bloodshed, more than 10,000 coalition forces have launched their largest offensive against militants across southern Afghanistan. More than 600 people, mainly militants, have been killed since May.
But Karzai, who has previously scorned large-scale anti-militant campaigns, rejected the continued spilling of Afghan blood in military operations.
"It is not acceptable for us that in all this fighting, Afghans are dying. In the last three to four weeks, 500 to 600 Afghans were killed. (Even) if they are Taliban, they are sons of this land," a clearly frustrated Karzai told reporters in Kabul on Thursday.
On Thursday, Afghan and coalition forces raided a "known" Taliban compound northwest of Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, killing eight militants, the coalition said. Six others were captured.
{{/usCountry}}On Thursday, Afghan and coalition forces raided a "known" Taliban compound northwest of Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, killing eight militants, the coalition said. Six others were captured.
{{/usCountry}}Karzai said the current focus on hunting Taliban militants didn't address terrorism's root causes.
"We must engage strategically in disarming terrorism by stopping their sources of supply of money, training, equipment and motivation," he said.