NATO has accepted an order issued by President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan banning Afghan security forces from calling in foreign air strikes in residential areas.
General Joseph Dunford said NATO respects Afghan sovereignty and has other ways of supporting Afghan forces.
Mr Karzai made the announcement in Kabul on Friday after 10 civilians were killed in a night raid in eastern Kunar province on Wednesday.
Civilian casualties are a source of tension between Afghan and NATO forces.
