General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S and NATO forces in Afghanistan has said that insider attacks against foreign forces will not damage relations between Afghan security forces and foreign troops in the country. 

He said that efforts are ongoing to identify infiltrators within the ranks of the Commandos within the Afghan National Army (ANA). 
 
“We will not allow the actions of a few confused individuals to break the strong bounds and relationship we have with you,” said Nicholson. 

Meanwhile, general Tariq Shah Bahrami, the acting minister of defense said that recent attacks by two Afghan Commandos against their foreign counterparts in Nangarhar and Balkh provinces had been plotted by some neighboring countries and intelligence services. 

“The attack was plotted by the neighboring countries and the terrorist organizations; they wanted to harm our strategic partnership; but we want to say that this partnership is strong and it will remain sustainable,” added Bahrami.

However, it appears the existence of infiltrators within the ranks of the Afghan Commandos - the most trusted soldiers within the army - has become a major headache for the Afghan government and the foreign forces.

This comes a day after a soldier from 209 Shaheen Corps Headquarters in Balkh opened fire on and wounded seven foreign soldiers in Dehdadi district in the province on Saturday afternoon. 

The attacker was gunned down by his colleagues.

This comes ahead of an imminent decision by Washington to send in additional troops to Afghanistan in a bid to boost their train, advise and assist mission. 

“There is a need to further strengthen the intelligence sector within the security forces so that the infiltrators are identified,” said former deputy minister of interior Mirza Mohammad Yarmand.

“All legal proceedings must be taken into consideration during the recruitments so that friends are separated from the foes,” said member of parliament’s internal security commission Sher Mohammad Akhnudzada.

Ten days ago an Afghan Commando opened fire on a number of foreign forces in Achin district of eastern Nangarhar province, killing at least three foreign soldiers and wounding two others.