Despite an apology from US President Barack Obama, the burning of the Muslim holy book at the Bagram base north of the capital ignited a wave of anti-Western fury across the country.
At least 30 people were killed in protests, including two American soldiers who were killed by an Afghan soldier who joined the demonstrations.
“After the first step of a profound apology, there must be a second step ... of disciplinary action,” Jan Kubis, special representative for the UN secretary-general in Afghanistan, told a news conference.
“Only after this, after such a disciplinary action, can the international forces say ‘yes, we’re sincere in our apology’,” added Kubis, without elaborating on what action should be taken.
Obama, in a letter of apology to Karzai last week, said the burning of copies of the Quran had been “inadvertent” and an “error”.
Distancing the United Nations from the anti-Western uproar, Kubis lamented the attack on a UN compound in Kunduz province in the north last week, which angry demonstrators charged with weapons. UN staff was relocated around the country.
“We were not the ones who desecrated the Holy Quran,” Kubis said. “We deeply, deeply, profoundly respect Islam.”
In some of the toughest language yet from an international organisation over the Quran burnings, Kubis added:
“We were very hurt that the international military allowed the desecration of the Quran. We rejected and condemned this act, it doesn't matter that it was a mistake.”
The call from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for action come after Karzai demanded the Quran burners – whom he said were American soldiers – be put on public trial and punished.
Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says any disciplinary action “deemed necessary” would be taken by US authorities after a thorough review of the facts in an investigation.
Results from separate investigations by Nato and Afghan authorities into the Quran burnings last month are expected soon. New protests could erupt if the investigation teams are seen as too soft on the Quran burners.
The Quran desecrations are also believed to have spurred a 25-year-old policeman to kill two high-ranking American officers inside the Interior Ministry.
The attack has raised questions about Nato's strategy of replacing large combat unit with advisers as the alliance tries to wind down the war.
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@some one
Mj is right. Pakistan never apologized for Bible burnings or desecration of Churches or anything. Your analogy of Pakistanis not being obliged to apologize for religious intolerance because they're not invaders is just off the mark. This is hypocrisy.
Yes, the burning of the Koran was an extremely mindless and foolish thing to do. The wrongdoers should learn a lesson, although they can't be punished, as it's not illegal to, although it's seen as a sacrilege in Islam to burn a Koran. But the unfortunate incident had been politically instrumentalised and inflated, so much so the protests got out of control.
UN ===> United for nothing
@mj
The Holy Quran has been desecrated in Afghanistan, an over 99% Muslim country by FOREIGN soldiers that have invaded the country and already killed thousands of civilians.
You cannot compare this with bible burning in Pakistan, which was not done by foreigners or invaders nor even by the Pak Army. It was a civil unrest between two communities of one country.
Show me one example where Bibles or Churches have been burnt by Pakistani or Saudi soldiers in America, France or the Vatican after toppling their governments and forming huge military bases there.
You need to have some simple analysing power if you are educated and enlightened, rather than being bigoted and comparing completely different scenarios .
@DM: @AaK: @some one: Tell me what crime has been committed? Isn't burning the book one of three proscribed methods of disposing of it according to Islam's own teachings? Disrespectful it may be but a crime it is not.
And tell me, just three years back in Gojra, bibles- to say nothing of churches and human beings- were burned with blatant disregard. Did anyone apologize for it? No!, and that happened in our own territory.
Bibles are burned in Pakistan, remember the churches desecrated, but for that there was no punishment, should i call it Islamic hypocricy.
@ Mj:
In my opinion the Quran burning incident does not require peaceful protests but strong protests because of the nature of such an incident and to make US realize their mistake. DO you think that peaceful protests would have resulted into an apology by Obama? A profound apology is not enough to mend ways for such a crime which was committed by US soldiers.They should know how to respect one's religion and yes i agree they should by tried publicly for their crime.
@mj Afghan security forces are pawns of the Americans. They are part of the puppet govt America has put in Afghanistan. you should be ashamed of your callous comment about the Afghans who died (were martyred). Its this mentality that leads to oppression and mass killings, when you do not consider others to be humans who have feelings as important as yours or the Americans.
The call from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for action come after Karzai demanded the Quran burners – whom he said were American soldiers – be put on public trial and punished.
Great Karzai!!!!
We must learn lesson from this man, even Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, makes demand. So why our leadership shy's from clarifying their stance.
@some one: The Afghans were not killed for raising their voices, but for not knowing how to protest peacefully by Afghan security forces. The loss of life is regrettable but do not pin the blame where it does not lie.
30 people killed. Only 2 were Americans and the rest were Afghans killed for raising their voice against oppression. Says it all. Now who are the invaders and the barbarians?
Has fear struck UN? US has already apologized, what more is required of it? By calling for punishment for a book incineration, the UN rep. is justifying the riotings, burnings, killings, and mass mania of the mob. Regrettable capitulation by the UN rep.