Burning the Muslim holy book „was hateful, it was intolerant and it was extremely disrespectful and again, we condemn it in the strongest manner possible,“ said Gen. David Petraeus, who heads the U.S.-led international forces in Afghanistan.

U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry said in a statement that Americans respect the Quran „and all religious texts and deplore any action that shows disrespect to any religious faith.“