News - Afghanistan

Isaf troops will not reduce their interaction with their Afghan partners, but rather will look to boost the relationship in order to tackle the problem of insider attacks, Isaf spokesman Brig. Gen. Gunter Katz said Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, Katz emphasised that by increasing relations with their Afghan partners, they will increase mutual trust and friendship.

"Let me clearly say, we are not going to reduce the close relationship with our Afghan partners. On the contrary, we assess that closer cooperation results in stronger bonds and increasing trust and friendship," he said.

Katz added that the issue of "green-on-blue" attacks - where an Afghan soldier or policeman shoots an Isaf troop - is not a one-sided matter and needs to be resolved in close collaboration with the Afghan forces.

The comments came after two US soldiers were killed by an Afghan national army soldier in eastern Laghman province on Monday. A total of 12 soldiers have been killed in this manner in August, and 42 killed this year.

A spokesman for the 201 Selab military corps Mohammad Noman Hatifi told TOLOnews that the incident happened in the Alingar district while the soldiers were defusing mines.