MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti) - NATO-led forces in Afghanistan have agreed to comply with Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s ban on foreign air strikes in residential areas, Afghan media reported on Sunday.

“[Afghanistan] is a sovereign nation and the president is exercising sovereignty,” the commander of the US-led NATO forces, Gen Joseph Dunford, said. "We are prepared to provide support in line with the president's intent."

"There are other ways we can support our Afghan partners other than air ordnance," he added.

Civilian casualties during NATO airstrikes have long been a source of tensions between Afghan leadership and NATO forces. Karzai signed the order days after a NATO air raid killed ten civilians in the eastern Kunar province last Wednesday.

Local analysts said that the move may lead to increased casualties among Afghan army and police officers.