Civilians at risk in Afghanistan.<br/> <br />Last year the number of civilian causalities in Afghanistan hit a record according to the U.N.,, mostly at the hands of insurgents. But in recent days the focus has been on civilian deaths caused by NATO airstrikes.<br/> <br />Now Afghan president Hamid Karzai has summoned U.S. General John Allen the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan to his palace to<br/> <br />discuss the civilian deaths, a longstanding thorn in ties between Karzai and his Western backers.<br/> <br />The palace released a statement saying that if Afghans do not feel safe, a strategic pact signed with the U.S. will be quote "meaningless."<br/> <br />Last week Obama swooped into Afghanistan for the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death to sign the strategic partnership agreement.<br/> <br />The deal aims to provide Afghans with reassurances that they will not be abandoned when most NATO combat troops leave as planned in 2014.<br/> <br />Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
