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Afghan Soldier Fires on Coalition Forces, Killing One In Insider Attack, an Afghan Soldier Opens Fire on Coalition Forces, Killing One
(about 4 hours later)
KABUL — An Afghan soldier opened fire on coalition forces in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing one soldier and wounding at least four others in the first so-called insider attack in more than a month, officials said. KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan soldier opened fire on coalition forces in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing one soldier and wounding at least four others in the first so-called insider attack in more than a month, officials said.
The Afghan soldier began firing at a passing convoy of coalition vehicles from a tower at Kandahar Air Field at around 10:30 a.m., according to Abdul Raziq Shirzai, commander of the Afghan Air Force brigade in Kandahar.The Afghan soldier began firing at a passing convoy of coalition vehicles from a tower at Kandahar Air Field at around 10:30 a.m., according to Abdul Raziq Shirzai, commander of the Afghan Air Force brigade in Kandahar.
Officials said they did not think the Taliban were responsible for the attack, but rather that the soldier, identified as Lamber Khan, was disgruntled with the foreign troop presence in Afghanistan. When questioned, the soldier, a five-year veteran, said foreign forces had conducted raids and frequent searches of his village in eastern Afghanistan, prompting him to take action, Mr. Shirzai said.Officials said they did not think the Taliban were responsible for the attack, but rather that the soldier, identified as Lamber Khan, was disgruntled with the foreign troop presence in Afghanistan. When questioned, the soldier, a five-year veteran, said foreign forces had conducted raids and frequent searches of his village in eastern Afghanistan, prompting him to take action, Mr. Shirzai said.
The Taliban could not be reached for comment and did not issue a statement claiming credit for the attack. The group has often claimed credit for insider attacks, even those thought to have no link to insurgents. The Taliban could not be reached for comment and did not issue a statement claiming credit for the attack. The group has often claimed responsibility for insider attacks, even those thought to have no link to insurgents.
The American-led military coalition said only that one service member had died; it declined to identify the nationality of the deceased or wounded. The American-led military coalition said only that one service member had died; it declined to identify the nationalities of the deceased or wounded.
The shooting was the sixth reported insider attack — also called green-on-blue violence — in Afghanistan this year, leading to nine coalition deaths. That is a huge drop from a year ago, when the specter of insider attacks dominated headlines and threatened to undermine Washington’s 2014 exit strategy of training the Afghans to fight on their own. By this point in 2012, Afghan soldiers had killed 27 of their coalition mentors in 20 separate attacks, according to the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, as the coalition forces are called. The shooting was the sixth reported insider attack — also called green-on-blue violence — in Afghanistan this year, leading to nine coalition deaths. That is a huge drop from a year ago, when the specter of insider attacks dominated headlines and threatened to undermine Washington’s 2014 exit strategy of training the Afghans to fight on their own. By this point last year, Afghan soldiers had killed 27 of their coalition mentors in 20 separate attacks, according to the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, as the coalition forces are called.
The issue of insider attacks loomed large last year as both Afghan and coalition forces struggled to implement strategies to halt the violence. At one point, the United States temporarily suspended its training mission, fearful that it could not protect its soldiers from their supposed allies.The issue of insider attacks loomed large last year as both Afghan and coalition forces struggled to implement strategies to halt the violence. At one point, the United States temporarily suspended its training mission, fearful that it could not protect its soldiers from their supposed allies.
Since then, the coalition has added new measures to prevent Taliban infiltrators and reduce the potential for attacks spawned by cultural tensions between American and Afghan forces, which is believed to play a large role in the attacks. Since then, the coalition has added new measures to prevent Taliban infiltrators and reduce the potential for attacks spawned by cultural tensions between American and Afghan forces, which are believed to play a large role in the attacks.
One factor in the drop is simply that the coalition is fighting less, American and Afghan officials said. As Afghan forces take the lead across the country, fewer Americans are on patrol or at checkpoints, where a number of attacks occurred in 2012. One factor in the drop is simply that the coalition is fighting less, American and Afghan officials said. As Afghan forces take the lead across the country, fewer Americans are on patrol or at checkpoints, where a number of attacks occurred last year.
Coalition forces are also scaling back at joint bases, reducing the chance of such assaults. In Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, for instance, the coalition footprint is expected to drop from 13 bases at the beginning of the year to three by year’s end. Coalition forces are also scaling back at joint bases, reducing the chance of such assaults. In Kunar and Nangarhar Provinces, for instance, the coalition footprint is expected to drop from 13 bases at the beginning of the year to three by year’s end.
As an added security measure for Americans who interact regularly with their counterparts, the United States military began requiring armed soldiers, known as guardian angels, to accompany any mentors visiting the Afghan side of joint bases.As an added security measure for Americans who interact regularly with their counterparts, the United States military began requiring armed soldiers, known as guardian angels, to accompany any mentors visiting the Afghan side of joint bases.
The Afghans, too, have stepped up efforts to curtail what has been an embarrassing problem for their government. Army and police forces have adopted a stricter screening process for new recruits and for those returning from extended leave to identify potential attackers. The National Directorate of Security, the country’s main intelligence agency, has embedded covert agents in the armed forces to ferret out potential attackers. The Afghans, too, have stepped up efforts to curtail what has been an embarrassing problem for their government. Army and police forces have adopted a stricter screening process for new recruits and for those returning from extended leave to identify potential attackers.
Even as green-on-blue violence has fallen, civilian casualties have continued to rise as Taliban bombs wreak havoc on local populations. The National Directorate of Security, the country’s main intelligence agency, has embedded covert agents in the armed forces to ferret out potential attackers.
In the latest bombing, 17 people, most of them women and children, were killed Tuesday evening when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Obei district of Herat Province, according to Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial police chief. Even as green-on-blue violence has fallen, civilian casualties have continued to rise as Taliban bombs have wreaked havoc on local populations.
In the latest bombing, 17 people, most of them women and children, were killed Tuesday evening when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the Obei district of Herat Province, according to Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial police chief.
Less than a week ago, four girls, aged 5 to 8, were killed after they accidentally tripped a hidden bomb while fetching water in southern Helmand Province. On the same day, two young boys were killed in Paktika Province when they accidentally struck a roadside bomb.Less than a week ago, four girls, aged 5 to 8, were killed after they accidentally tripped a hidden bomb while fetching water in southern Helmand Province. On the same day, two young boys were killed in Paktika Province when they accidentally struck a roadside bomb.
The rise in civilian casualties was recently noted in a United Nations report, which attributed about three-quarters of the deaths to insurgent bombs. Of the nearly 3,100 civilian casualties through early June this year, roughly 20 percent of them were children, the report said.The rise in civilian casualties was recently noted in a United Nations report, which attributed about three-quarters of the deaths to insurgent bombs. Of the nearly 3,100 civilian casualties through early June this year, roughly 20 percent of them were children, the report said.

Reporting was contributed by Matthew Rosenberg, Sharifullah Sahak and Jawad Sukhanyar from Kabul, and Taimoor Shah from Kandahar.

Reporting was contributed by Matthew Rosenberg, Sharifullah Sahak and Jawad Sukhanyar from Kabul, and Taimoor Shah from Kandahar, Afghanistan.