The US military on Monday described as "incorrect" accusations by a top rights watchdog that US forces had committed human rights violations in Afghanistan.
Human Rights Watch in its report on Monday charged that US military forces in Afghanistan had mistreated detainees, arbitrarily detained civilians and used excessive force in arrests of non-combatants.
"The United States is setting a terrible example in Afghanistan on detention practices," said Brad Adams, executive director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch (HRW).
"Civilians are being held in a legal black hole - with no tribunals, no legal counsel, no family visits and no basic legal protections."
And Washington has not responded adequately to questions about arrest and detention practices, the group charged. US military spokesman Colonel Bryan Hilferty denied the accusations.
"This report shows lack of understanding on the region, this is a combat zone. We follow strict rules of engagement and the laws of war" Hilferty told a news conference here.