Six American soldiers were killed on Saturday in two separate attacks. It is one of the deadliest ‘green on blue’ incidents since the dramatic rise in such attacks on foreign troops by members of the Afghan National Security Forces. Four attacks have occurred last week. It is now becoming a very serious issue of mistrust between Afghan forces and NATO troops, raising questions on the integrity of ANSF after increasing incidents becoming a trend. There have been 26 attacks this year, killing 34 ISAF soldiers.
Saturday’s incidents happened in Helmand Province, where the international troops have invested high stakes for the success of security transition and community stabilization initiatives. Taliban have claimed responsibility for both attacks. The American victims are members of the Special Operation Forces.
ISAF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Gunter Katz has said the attacks will not affect cooperation with ANSF. He said ISAF investigations have found that most of these incidents were results of personal problems and arguments. ISAF says 400 military installations have been closed down or transferred to Afghan Army in different parts of the country where control has transitioned to ANSF.
The issue of infiltration in Afghan National Security Forces is the biggest threat from within. The rise of incidents in the last couple of months in which members of ANA or ANP have turned up their weapons against their foreign mentors has already showed a crack in our National Security Forces on which all the hopes are bet for the post-2014 stability when international troops will withdraw. There are fears of Afghanistan returning to civil war and security forces fragmenting along ethnic lines.
In some cases, it has been Taliban infiltrators, and in others, actual members of Afghan forces have turned their guns on their trainers. There seems to be something deeply wrong with the recruitment and screening process.
In another deadly incident on Saturday, an officer of the ANP opened fire on his own colleagues killing 11 Afghan police Dilaram, Nimroz Province. The attacker is suspected to have ties with Taliban militants.
President Karzai has condemned the attack on the US Marines in Helmand. He should make a special commission to probe the trend of Taliban infiltration in ANSF, or actual members of Afghan forces turning their weapons against their mentors. It is a matter of very serious concern, a threat from within.
President should call a meeting of the National Security Forces, and security ministers to discuss the issue. With support of the US troops, there should be a detailed investigation about the trend of such incidents and adopt a strategy and avoid Taliban infiltration and members of ANSF having sympathy for militants should be screened and required action should be taken.