Afghan Army Chief Blames Neighbouring Countries for Insider Attacks

Afghanistan National Army chief Shir Mohammad Karimi blamed the latest deaths of Isaf soldiers at the hands of an Afghan soldier on "neighboring countries" in a speech to the country's security forces.

Karimi said at a graduation ceremony of Afghan forces in Kabul on Thursday that neighbouring counties were trying to undermine the building of the Afghan forces, "paying money to Afghans soldiers and misleading advertising to create problems between Afghan and Nato troops".

His comments were made as three Australian soldiers were shot dead overnight by an Afghan soldier at their base in Uruzgan, bringing to 15 the number of Isaf soldiers killed this month by Afghan allies.

Afghan lawmakers earlier this week also blamed "foreign spy agencies" for the rise of the insider attacks. In both instances, Karimi and the lawmakers are understood to be referring mainly to Pakistan and also to Iran.

More than 140 people, including two women, graduated from the national training academy Thursday.

Officials said that the 140 included graduates who would become part of the Afghan national army, national police and the National Directorate of Security, and some will go on to participate in special operations.

Karimi stressed at the ceremony that security officials were trying to build strong combat troops to prepare for the Nato-led troops withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 when full security responsibility will be handed to Afghans.