Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, the head of Canadian and NATO forces in Kandahar, is taking issue with an independent report alleging air strikes and nighttime raids in Afghanistan may be stoking a backlash among civilians.

The report by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission -- entitled "From Hope to Fear" -- says violent house raids and air strikes on civilians could undo seven years of NATO and government efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan civilians.

Thompson says he welcomes the report but also noted that coalition soldiers only conduct such strikes as a "last resort."

"Every precaution is taken to ensure there is a high degree of certainty regarding targets ... Task Force Kandahar troops -- both U.S. and Canadian -- take extraordinary efforts to minimize collateral damage and to avoid harm to innocent civilians," he said.

Thompson referred specifically of two incidents this year -- one on July 27 and the other on Sept. 18 -- in which civilians were killed.

"Both incidents were investigated, and in both cases, it was found that our soldiers followed proper escalation of force procedures," he said.

The AIHRC, which "acts independently," is funded by NATO countries involved in the Afghan mission.

"From Hope to Fear" claims that Afghan families know stories of friends and family members who have been awoken in the middle of the night and "abused" by armed men.

"In general AIHRC questions PGFs'(Pro-government Forces') heavy reliance on air strikes, which on several occasions have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties that may have been symptomatic of excessive use of force," the commission's report says.

"Afghan families experienced their family members killed or injured, their houses or other property destroyed, or homes invaded at night without any perceived justification or legal authorization ... local resentment over high civilian casualties and perceived insensitivity are exacerbated by a lack of public accountability."

There have been several high-profile attacks that have killed and injured civilians in recent months. They include, an Aug. 22 U.S. raid on the village of Azizabad in Herat province, which killed at least several dozen people, including women and children.

According to the United Nations:

• A total of 1,798 civilians have been killed this year.
• A total of 455 civilian died from coalition air strikes.

Omar Samad, the Afghan ambassador to Canada, told CTV Newsnet on Tuesday that government and NATO forces are obviously not targeting civilians. But he added that there has been a "pattern" over the years where civilians have been hurt and killed.

"We do not want to erode the support the Afghans have for the (international security force)," he said.

The Canadian Press reported earlier that British Royal Navy Capt. Mark Windsor, a spokesman for NATO forces in Afghanistan, said coalition forces are aware of the report's criticism.

"We have to do our job, obviously, but we must demonstrate proportionality and restraint and discrimination in the use of firepower," Windsor said.

"We are concerned about this ... and we are trying our utmost to work with the Afghan security forces to try and reduce civilian casualties, but also any distress to our Afghan hosts in this country."

This report recommends that:

• Pro-government forces minimize collateral damage to civilian lives and properties.
• There be better PGF co-ordination amongst its forces in planning and conduct of operations.
• PGF review and clarify chains of command and any controlling guidelines on night raids.
• Military or security tactics be avoided wherever possible in favour of regular law enforcement-led search and arrest procedures.
• PGF should initiate prompt and thorough investigations into any incident of alleged civilian casualties and publicly release details of their findings and evidence.
• The Afghan government coalition troops make a more concerted effort to render justice for victims.

In the past, Karzai has called for a review of the use of U.S. and NATO air power.

A second commission report -- also released Tuesday -- claims there have also been a litany of Taliban abuses. They include kidnappings and executions against Afghan civilians.

"Attacks against government civilian officials and institutions have increasingly chipped away at the government's ability to provide services to hundreds and thousands of people," the report on the insurgency says.

"It is often the poorest people of Afghanistan who are being threatened, kidnapped, and executed because they work on government or international construction or development projects."