2 NATO troops killed in Afghan “insider attack”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Two NATO troops have been killed in southern Afghanistan in what appears to be another insider attack, Belfast Telegraph reported.

A man wearing an Afghan police uniform carried out the attack in Helmand province's Nahri Sarraj district but no further details were released by NATO.

It 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.

At least 53 international troops have been killed in attacks by Afghan soldiers or police this year, and 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.