Afghanistan Kunduz strike: Pentagon to pay compensation to victims' families

The Pentagon has agreed to pay compensation to the families of the victims of the Kunduz hospital airstrike that claimed 22 lives. The US has admitted that the airstrike on the hospital, run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), was a mistake.

The US Department of Defense said Washington would make "condolence payments to victims of relatives" apart from repair works at the medical charity's hospital. "The Department of Defence believes it is important to address the consequences of the tragic incident at the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan," Pentagon spokesperson Peter Cook said.

"US Forces-Afghanistan has the authority to make condolence payments and payments toward repair of the hospital. USFOR-A will work with those affected to determine appropriate payments. If necessary and appropriate, the administration will seek additional authority from the Congress," the statement read.

Meanwhile, the charity -- known by its French name Medicines Sans Frontieres -- has been demanding a thorough independent investigation into the incident. Pentagon's compensation bid has come just after President Barack Obama apologised for "mistakenly targeting the hospital", which was a lifeline for medical facilities in the war-torn region. The MSF has shut the facility since the attack.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has appointed an "independent team of Afghan investigators" to probe the attack. This is besides the ongoing probe by two separate teams of experts of the US military and Nato forces.