
Muslims consider the burning of the koran and any other desecration of the koran to be a sin of death. International security force isaf acknowledged that soldiers at bagram had "inappropriately disposed" of muslim scriptures such as the koran. Isaf commander john allen apologized and stressed that the soldiers had not acted premeditatively.
U.S. Defense secretary leon panetta spoke of a "most regrettable incident" that he strongly condemned. "These actions do not reflect the views of the u.S. Military. We honor and respect the religious practices of the afghan people without exception." Panetta promised a determined investigation together with the afghan government.
Parwan provincial government spokeswoman roshana chalid said afghans working at the u.S. Base in bagram had brought burned copies of the koran from there.