ADDRESSING AFGHAN CONCERNS FOLLOWING SHINDAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000620 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2018 TAGS: PREL AF EZ SUBJECT: ADDRESSING AFGHAN CONCERNS FOLLOWING SHINDAND INCIDENT: CZECH REACTION REF: STATE 99726 Classified By: Political/Economic Counselor Charles O. Blaha, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Political/Economic Counselor delivered reftel demarche on September 18 to Czech MFA Security Policy Department Director Veronika Kuchynova-Smigolova. Kuchynova-Smigolova likewise regretted civilian casualties, but noted that media accounts of such incidents can be incorrect. She further noted that the Taliban often use civilians as human shields, and the Taliban are responsible for deaths that occur as a result. Graber