2 Albanian soldiers shot dead by Afghan policeman

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN) command in southern Kandahar province, the Albanian defence ministry and Afghan officials said on Tuesday.

The Albanian defence ministry confirmed two of its soldiers were killed when an Afghan policeman turned his gun on the international troops in Kandahar. It said initially one soldier was killed, but later a second succumbed to his injuries in a health facility.  

Albania has 286 soldiers in Afghanistan and Kandahar province. Three Albanian soldiers have been killed since the NATO-led mission began in the country a decade back.

The incident took place in the Robat area of Spin Boldak district late on Monday, Zalmay Ayubi, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News. The shooting occurred after an Afghan national police officer had a verbal clash with Albanian soldiers.

One soldier was killed on the spot and three others, including a US servicemember, were wounded, he said. Denying the involvement of insurgents in the attack, Ayubi said the incident was being investigated.

Meanwhile, ISAF confirmed the incident, but issued no details. Last month, an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier opened fire on French troops in central Kapisa province, killing four soldiers and wounding 16 others.

After the attack, France suspended its training mission in the country and warned to withdraw its troops a year ahead of the 2014 deadline. A report from the US Congress says 45 attacks by Afghan forces on international soldiers have killed 70 foreign soldiers and injured 110 others since 2007.

mrh/ma/mud

Visits: 2