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UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan
(40 minutes later)
Three British soldiers have been killed and four injured by an Afghan soldier who fired at them in Afghanistan. Three British soldiers have been killed and four injured by a rogue Afghan soldier in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.
The men were on duty early on Tuesday morning at a checkpoint in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand province, when the Afghan opened fire with a rocket-propelled grenade. The men, from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, were on duty on Tuesday morning in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand province, when the Afghan opened fire.
One of the dead is believed to be a Nepalese Gurkha and the other two were described as UK nationals.One of the dead is believed to be a Nepalese Gurkha and the other two were described as UK nationals.
An investigation is under way and next of kin are being informed.An investigation is under way and next of kin are being informed.
There is a helpline number in the UK for concerned relatives - 08457 800900.There is a helpline number in the UK for concerned relatives - 08457 800900.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has apologised to the UK after the incident.Afghan President Hamid Karzai has apologised to the UK after the incident.
It is understood there will not be any further confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the incident until the next of kin are informed. An Afghan defence ministry spokesman said a soldier from the Afghan National Army (ANA) was being sought following the incident.
An Afghan defence ministry spokesman said an Afghan soldier was being sought following the incident. According to the MoD, the soldier was using a combination of weapons. It is believed that one may have been a rocket-propelled grenade.
Exit strategy Strenuous efforts
The news emerged from the Afghan president Hamid Karzai. The spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, said: "We believe these were the actions of a lone individual who has betrayed his Isaf and Afghan comrades.
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the incident will re-awaken memories of last November, when an Afghan policeman shot dead five British soldiers in their compound, and seriously wounded six others. "His whereabouts are currently unknown but we are making strenuous efforts to find him. He should know that his actions will not deter us from our task and we will continue to work closely with our Afghan friends to bring security to Helmand.
The Afghan army is being partnered and mentored by British troops across Helmand. "Three courageous and dedicated soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice. They will be greatly missed and their actions will not be forgotten. We will remember them."
Our correspondent also said this latest tragedy will again intensify debate over the human costs of the mission in Afghanistan - and over whether the West's exit strategy, which relies on training the Afghan army and police, can hope to succeed. British soldiers in Afghanistan have trained 130,000 Afghan troops since 2006, and 5,000 British troops are currently partnering members of the ANA.
BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said this appears to be the third incident in which a member of the Afghan security forces has opened fire on British troops.
There was one incident in 2008 when two British soldiers were shot in the leg, then another incident in November 2009 when five British soldiers were shot by an Afghan policeman.
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said this latest tragedy will again intensify debate over the human costs of the mission in Afghanistan - and over whether the West's exit strategy, which relies on training the Afghan army and police, can hope to succeed.
Downing Street said Prime Minister David Cameron was being kept informed about the incident.Downing Street said Prime Minister David Cameron was being kept informed about the incident.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, who is in Kabul, said similar incidents have happened in the past but it is not always insurgents who are behind it. Soldier segregation
He said that sometimes local matters and other grievances can be behind it. The incident was "undoubtedly a blow" to morale not just for the trainers but the Afghan forces as well, he added.
The Nato commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, said: "This is a combined joint mission - Afghan and Alliance troopers fighting shoulder to shoulder against the Taliban and other extremists.The Nato commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, said: "This is a combined joint mission - Afghan and Alliance troopers fighting shoulder to shoulder against the Taliban and other extremists.
"We have sacrificed greatly together and we must ensure the trust between our forces remains solid in order to defeat our common enemies.""We have sacrificed greatly together and we must ensure the trust between our forces remains solid in order to defeat our common enemies."
Soldier segregation
Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, told the BBC it was important to remember that this was an isolated incident and "not a pattern of events".Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, told the BBC it was important to remember that this was an isolated incident and "not a pattern of events".
He said: "The sort of thing you could do is to not allow Afghan forces to be armed with live ammunition in the same base as British troops unless they're about to go out on patrol but that would severely undermine trust. He said: "The sort of thing you could do is to not allow Afghan forces to be armed with live ammunition in the same base as British troops unless they're about to go out on patrol, but that would severely undermine trust.
"You could segregate bases between the two but that would not only undermine trust but it would also prevent the essential partnering that's taking place." "You could segregate bases between the two - but that would not only undermine trust, but it would also prevent the essential partnering that's taking place."
Maj Gen Patrick Cordingley, a former commander in the first Gulf War, told the BBC feelings would be "running high" over the next few days, "not only among the soldiers involved but also in this country, where people are going to continue to ask the question 'Is it all worthwhile?'"Maj Gen Patrick Cordingley, a former commander in the first Gulf War, told the BBC feelings would be "running high" over the next few days, "not only among the soldiers involved but also in this country, where people are going to continue to ask the question 'Is it all worthwhile?'"
He added: "It is this whole business now of trying to overcome the problem, and not let feelings run high, and trying to work out if there are some rogue elements in those soldiers and policemen who they're trying to train, but that's going to be difficult if you don't speak the same language."
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident this morning in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province involving Isaf troops.
"An investigation is under way and more details will be released when appropriate."