Afghan and NATO sources confirmed that two international service members were shot and killed by a man wearing an Afghan army uniform in the southern Helmand province. The attack happened at a military base and the attacker was killed by coalition troops. There is not reliable information about the attacker's real incentive; however, the incident could possibly be interpreted as a reaction to recent civilian massacre by an American soldier in Kandahar for which NATO has already anticipated retaliation.

The attack is the latest in a number where members of the Afghan security forces kill their international colleagues and trainers mainly for ideological differences or as a response to civilian deaths. Cases of that nature, that have seriously diminished mutual trust and partnership, are considered the most frustrating challenge to both Afghan and international officials. Afghan Ministries of Defense and Interior that control ANA and ANP respectively have promised to review the recruitment criteria and process for the new and current armed force members.

However, the realization of such promise will obviously require substantial resources and great deal of time. Afghan National Army and Police were quickly formed after the fall of Taliban under an emergency condition where both Afghan government and international community involved in the area were not able to implement stringent and reliable recruitment mechanisms. As acknowledged by Afghan authorities, the Taliban fighters were able to greatly infiltrate the new security structure.

The problem is more intensified by Afghanistan's deficient administrative system and poorly qualified administrators where the administration is not equipped with modern digital technologies and effectively consistent software programs to help officials accurately record an applicant's personal and professional information and provide timely update on individual profile. Afghan administration is still using the obsolete filing system where personal information is stored in books and papers that can easily get lost or modified, most often, for reasons other than professional ones.

Since the decision-makers do not have the necessary administrative measures to collect, access, update and share information, people with ideological and political incentives can easily manipulate the system to falsify their information and get hired as police and army. The system is too poor that even when someone is terminated from the armed forces, they can re-enter without the assigned officials' notice. The situation has created a frustrating dilemma for NATO trainers and combat forces to work with Afghan colleagues in a completely dangerous and unreliable environment.

The overall process is particularly unfortunate when every time Afghan government fails to present an adequate response in terms of reforming the recruitment process and mobilizing the public and members of armed forces to condemn such cowardly act. Afghan people and government need to be fair in their judgment and political position about such behavior. The government is praised when it adopts a firm position against civilian deaths or night raids and people are appreciated when holding peaceful demonstration to express their hatred, however, a similar expectation is logically expected when coalition soldiers are killed by their Afghan colleagues and the Taliban's associates.

The government's increasing anti-western tone has also greatly contributed to the occurrence and repetition of such painful incident. If the current mission is to succeed, Afghans and international forces need to demonstrate equitable respect and care to life and blood without discrimination on nationality. Obviously, Afghanistan cannot survive with a radicalized and morally bankrupt army and police that are highly fragmented with minimal sense of patriotism and attachment to the country's sensitive current and future goals.