Closing ranks

Schneiderhahn told the Sunday edition of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that German Colonel Georg Klein's decision to attack two laden fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban close to the German base in Kunduz "was only made after careful evaluation of the entire situation."

He said the decision was "made with the intention of preventing significant danger," to German, allied and Afghan security forces.

Many German officials - including Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung and Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, both Christian Democrats - have already supported the decision to order the airstrike just over a week ago.

There are vastly conflicting reports on the extent of casualties caused by the attack, but Afghan authorities are investigating the incident more closely, along with NATO. German media reports suggest that at least some civilians were killed in the attack.

With just weeks to go before the German general election, the unpopular Afghan conflict has been catapulted into the midst of campaign season.

"Impressed" by Colonel's command

Schneiderhahn also said he visited Colonel Klein in Afghanistan this spring, and had an in-depth discussion with the commander about the difficulties operating in Afghanistan.

"The professionalism with which our soldiers are acting, under constant threat and in an unsure situation, impressed me," Schneiderhahn said.

However, the strike has come under criticism from some of Germany's NATO allies, and Colonel Klein has been accused of overstepping his command by ordering the airstrike.

Klein himself has welcomed the investigation into the attack in an interview with mass-circulation daily Bild, describing such investigations into lethal military strikes as "necessary and correct."

"Every ISAF soldier or civilian killed in Afghanistan is one too many," Klein said.

msh/dpa/AP/Reuters

Editor: Sonia Phalnikar