http://bigpeace.com/driehl/2012/03/03/probe-korans-placed-in-trash-by-soldiers-inadvertently-burned-by-afghan-workers/#more-199224
Probe: Korans Placed in Trash by Soldiers, Inadvertently Burned by Afghan Workers
The Sky News headline does not tell the full story; it appears several enlisted men were directed to dispose of the Korans found to have been burned, but they were not given clear orders how to get rid of them. The actual burning was apparently begun by Afghans manning the pit. You have to read far down in the linked story to read this. Emphasis mine.
US officials said several of the soldiers, who have not been publicly identified, are likely to face disciplinary proceedings.
They were not told to burn the books, although it’s unclear how they were supposed to dispose of Muslim texts. ‘There were crossed wires,’ said one official familiar with the investigation. ‘There’s no indication this was a deliberate attempt to defile religious materials.’
Afghan workers at the burn pit spotted several Korans in the flames and ’started getting riled up’ over the desecration of holy books, another official said. The workers pulled several charred books from the fire and told other Afghans, igniting widespread outrage.