U.S. soldier killed by Afghan gunmen

A NATO service member was killed in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday following attack by individuals in Afghan national army unifrom.

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a statement announced, “An International Security Assistance Force service member died when two individuals wearing Afghan National Army uniforms turned their weapons against ISAF service members in eastern Afghanistan, Aug. 7.”

The statement further added, “Afghan and ISAF officials are investigating the incident.”

ISAF did not disclose further information regarding the exact location of the incident and nationality of the deceased soldier.

International Security Assistance Force generally do not disclose identities of the NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan saying, “It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.”

from KHAAMA

By Sajad - Tue Aug 07, 9:04 pm

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from Richmond Times-Dispatch:

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Two gunmen wearing Afghan army uniforms killed a U.S. soldier and wounded two others Tuesday, hours after Afghanistan's defense minister stepped down following a weekend no-confidence vote in parliament.

The exit of Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak leaves a vacancy at the helm of the ministry that has overseen rapid expansion of the nation's army. Afghan soldiers are increasingly taking their positions on the front lines of the war as foreign combat troops withdraw.

Wardak's resignation comes at the peak of the summer fighting season. Violence on Tuesday hit eastern and southern Afghanistan, where militants have their deepest roots.

The two gunmen wearing Afghan National Army uniforms fired on NATO troops at a base in Paktia province of eastern Afghanistan, killing a soldier, according to the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan officials.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting, the latest in a rising number of so-called "green-on-blue" attacks in which Afghan security forces, or insurgents disguised in their uniforms, kill their U.S. or NATO partners.

A U.S. official said the service member killed was American. A second American official said two U.S. service members were wounded.

So far this year, 27 coalition troops have been killed in 20 such attacks, according to an Associated Press tally.

The second U.S. official said both of the gunmen in Afghan army uniforms were in custody.

Posted in: Afghan National Army, Afghan National Security Forces, Afghanistan, International Security Assistance Force, NATO