KABUL, Afghanistan -- A man wearing an Afghan police uniform
killed two NATO troops in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the
international military alliance said.
The assault appeared to the
be the latest in a string of insider attacks that have threatened to
sever the partnership between international troops and the Afghan forces
they are trying to train to take over responsibility for the country's
security. There have also been cases of insurgents donning Afghan
uniforms in assaults.
A statement from NATO gave no further details, saying the shooting is still under investigation.
Afghan officials said there was an attack in Helmand province's Nahri Sarraj district but also could not confirm any details.
"We
know that there are casualties," said Ismail Hotak, the director of the
provincial office that coordinates with the international forces.
Both the British and American militaries have large contingents in Helmand.
At
least 53 international troops have been killed in attacks by Afghan
soldiers or police this year, and a number of other assaults are still
under investigation, the international alliance has said.
The
surge in insider attacks is throwing doubt on the capability of the
Afghan security forces to take over from international troops ahead of a
planned handover to the Afghans in 2014. It has further undermined
public support for the 11-year war in NATO countries.
The attacks
have not been limited to members of the NATO-led international
coalition. More than 50 Afghan members of the government's security
forces also have died this in attacks by their own colleagues.
Associated Press