Kabul ( CNN ) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reiterated his stance that NATO forces in Afghanistan should never make airstrikes on civilian homes , a practice that has angered many Afghans . `` As far as our responsibilities in Afghanistan are concerned , it was clearly agreed that no airstrike should be launched on the houses of Afghan people and no reason is valid for the use of it , and we totally call it disproportionate use of force , '' he told reporters in Kabul on Tuesday . `` Even if NATO forces are attacked , they can not use airstrikes on civilian homes . '' He said such airstrikes were `` completely banned , absolutely banned . '' Karzai 's strong words followed a statement by NATO on Monday that it will no longer use airstrikes against insurgent targets in civilian homes if there are `` other means '' to deal with the targets . Forces `` will continue to conduct operations against insurgents who use civilian dwellings , but when there is concern over the presence of civilians , air delivered munitions will not be employed while other means are available , '' Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings said . The statement did not elaborate on what other means International Security Assistance Force commanders would use . Karzai calls casualties unacceptable . The shift comes after an airstrike last week in Logar province that killed 18 people , including women and children . It was the latest of several such strikes that have upset relations between Afghanistan and the United States . Hollande : 4 French soldiers , interpreter killed in Afghanistan . Karzai cut short a trip to China following the strike and summoned the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan , Gen. John Allen , to demand an end to the strikes . He and Allen had detailed talks , the Afghan president said , in which they agreed that this kind of strike on civilian homes `` can not be repeated . '' `` Afghanistan has been ... greatly troubled by civilian casualties , as you are all aware , and this has been an issue on which we have had serious tensions with our allies in NATO and the United States , '' Karzai said . The strategic partnership agreement signed by Afghanistan was supposed to turn a new page in the relationship between his country and NATO , he said , and `` bring an end to bombardment of civilian homes . '' NATO forces said the Logar airstrike occurred when soldiers returned fire during a mission targeting a Taliban leader . An ISAF spokesman said insurgents were killed and security forces seized weapons and explosives . The change in policy will not hinder ISAF forces from pursuing insurgents , Cummings said . `` This restriction in no way limits our ability to take the fight to the enemy , '' he said . `` Air dropped munitions against civilian dwellings represent a very small percentage of all of our air operations . '' Army Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti , commander of ISAF Joint Command in Afghanistan , said Monday that since January 2012 , ISAF had conducted more than 1,300 close air support operations , during which `` 32 civilian compounds were damaged and five incidents of civilian casualties were confirmed . '' NATO and the U.S. military apologized last month to the families and loved ones of Afghans killed in coalition airstrikes in two other villages , saying they were `` tragic and regrettable incidents . '' CNN 's Ingrid Formanek and Masoud Popalzai contributed to this report .
NEW : Karzai : Civilian deaths causing serious tensions between Afghanistan and allies . Afghan president says such strikes ca n't be used `` even if NATO forces are attacked '' NATO says it will no longer use airstrikes on civilian homes if `` other means '' are available . The shift comes after an airstrike last week in Logar province that killed 18 people .