An individual wearing an Afghan army uniform turned his weapon against foreign troops in the south of the country, killing one, in another apparent attack by Afghans against their foreign allies, the NATO command said Tuesday, Jan 8.

A statement said the incident, which occurred Monday, was under investigation and released no further details. U.S. officials in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity because the details have not been formally released, confirmed that the victim was not an American.

An Afghan military spokesman in the southern province of Helmand, the most violent in the country, said the attack occurred in the province's Gereshk District. Ghulum Rasool Zazai said a joint commission of Afghan and NATO officers were investigating the assault, and attempting to determine whether the killer was a member of the Afghan National Army.

Several similar attacks have occurred in Gereshk. Last October, two British soldiers were killed by an Afghan policeman. The same month a police officer, along with militants, poisoned their colleagues and shot others, leaving six Afghans dead.

Killings by uniformed Afghans of foreign soldiers and civilians rose dramatically last year, eroding confidence between the sides at a crucial turning point in the conflict, Associated Press reported.