KABUL: Three Americans — two soldiers and a civilian — were killed in Afghanistan yesterday when a man in an Afghan army uniform turned his weapon on them in the eastern province of Paktika, the Nato-led force said.
So-called insider attacks by Afghan soldiers on Nato allies have become an increasing problem over the past year, threatening to undermine waning support for the war among Western nations sending troops.
The three Americans were shot dead by the man following an argument, the Paktika provincial governor’s spokesman Mukhlas Afghan said, adding that three Americans were wounded. The attacker was shot dead soon after he opened fire.
“Two US International Security Assistance Force service members and one US civilian were killed today when an individual wearing an ANA uniform turned his weapon against (them),” a Nato statement said.
Also, an Italian soldier was killed and three others were wounded when a child threw a grenade at a Nato convoy in the western province of Farah, a Taliban spokesman said
“A brave, heroic 11-year-old Afghan child hurled a hand grenade at dismounted Italian troops in Farah city,” the Taliban said in a statement. The four deaths bring to 16 the number of international troops killed in Afghanistan this month and come two days after seven Georgian soldiers died in a suicide car bombing in the southern province of Helmand. Agencies
