NATO chief vows action prevent insider attacks in Afghanistan

PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO's top official vowed to "do everything it takes" to prevent more insider attacks in Afghanistan, saying they were threatening to undermine trust between international troops and their Afghan allies.

According to AP, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Tuesday, Sept 4, the surge of attacks by Afghan soldiers and police on their foreign partners will not derail the transition process. Afghan forces are scheduled to take over security for the country by the end of 2014, when NATO forces will withdraw.

Additional measures to prevent so-called "green-on-blue" attacks may include strengthened vetting and screening procedures, improved counter-intelligence, as well as cultural awareness training, Fogh Rasmussen said.

Insider attacks have killed 45 international service members this year, most of them Americans. There were at least 12 such attacks in August alone, resulting in 15 deaths.