The Washington Post reported Tuesday that US Gen. David Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan and head of Afghanistan’s International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, suggested Sunday in a closed meeting at the presidential palace in Kabul that pro-Taleban Afghans caught up in a coalition attack in northeastern Afghanistan might have burned their own children or invented stories to exaggerate claims of civilian casualties.

During the meeting, the governor of Konar, Fazlullah Wahidi, cited reports from villagers that dozens of women and children perished.

Aides present at the briefing said Petraeus dismissed allegations by Karzai's office and the provincial governor that civilians were killed and injured, to pin the blame on US forces and force an end to the operation.

Afghan officials present at the meeting were said to be unhappy by Petraeus’s comment.

One participant, said: “This was shocking. Would any father do this to his children? This is really absurd.”

Petraeus so far has declined to comment.  The Pentagon press office did not return AN inquiries before deadline.

Meanwhile, a US military spokesman is rejecting reported characterizations of remarks by Petraeus. Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, the top US military spokesman in Kabul, told the Post that he reviewed the footage and “found no evidence women and children were among the fighters.”

Smith then told reporters the newspaper incorrectly characterized Petraeus’ comments.  

According to intercepted conversations, Smith said, insurgents discussed contacting government officials to tell them that civilians were being killed so that coalition helicopters could be stopped from firing. The insurgents also discussed their casualties, “stating they lost 50 and needed help in getting out the wounded and quickly burying the dead,” he said.

“I believe my exact statement (to the reporter) was that his understanding of what was said at the meeting was ‘overstated,’ and like with you, I declined to comment further,” he said.

US and Afghan officials are investigating what happened during the three- to four-day operation in the mountains of Ghaziabad district, one of the most dangerous and inhospitable parts of Afghanistan. US military officials said there is no evidence that civilians died.

Petraeus’ accusation allegedly so infuriated the Afghans that they went straight to the Washington Post to complain about the insensitivity of whatever Petraeus said.

It's been a few months since Petraeus had a dustup with the Karzai government, and many are now wondering whether Petraeus and/or Karzai will respond to his allegations.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon denied reports this week that Petraeus is leaving his post. 

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell allegedly told some folks that President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates already were searching for a replacement commanding general for ISAF.

Twitter quickly caught onto the story, while the Huffington Post posted a headline saying Petraeus was “out” in Afghanistan; other reports said he was “quitting.”

The WP, meanwhile, reported that Petraeus, and his deputy commander Gen. David Rodriguez, were widely expected to step down by the end of the year.

But Morrell told the military’s Stars and Stripes that: “Despite some sensational speculation…., I can assure you Gen. Petraeus is not quitting as ISAF commander.

He then added, somewhat paradoxically: "Nor does he plan to stay in Afghanistan forever. Obviously he will rotate out at some point, but that point has not yet been determined and it will not occur anytime soon. Until then, he will continue to ably lead our coalition forces in Afghanistan.”