Vice-Admiral William H. McRaven went to Paktia to ask locals to forgive for killing innocents Afghans.

KABUL: US special forces commander visited a family in rural Afghanistan to plead for forgiveness after finally admitting that his troops killed five innocent people in a raid.

Vice-Admiral William H. McRaven went to Paktia to the home of family who lost two sons, two pregnant women and teenage girl when the US special forces mistakenly opened fire in the house on February 12 when the family had accumulated to celebrate a newborn child.

“I am the commander of the soldiers who accidentally killed your loved ones. I came here to send my condolences. I also came to ask your forgiveness for these terrible tragedies,” he said. It was the first official acknowledgement of US Special Forces involvement in the raid in Khataba, near Gardez. The family welcomed his supplication but insisted on justice.

“When people come to your gate and ask forgiveness, according to Afghan law, it’s difficult to reject them,” head of the family Haji Sharabuddin said later. “I am happy they came.” But the family insists that it still wants justice. “I don’t care about the money,” Haji Sharabuddin said. He believes the troops attacked after faulty intelligence from one of his enemies — a spy. He wants the Americans to face international justice and the spy handed to Afghan authorities and punished. “When they surrender the spy, then I will make a decision. Maybe I will forgive them,” he said.