Afghanistan: Attack by rogue soldier brings US death toll to 2,000

GlobalPost

The US military death toll in Afghanistan has hit 2000, after a rogue Afghan soldier shot dead two Americans at a checkpoint in the country's east, the Associated Press reported.

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The latest insider, or “green on blue” attack, took place outside a joint US-Afghan base in Wardak province, with at least two Afghan soldiers also killed.

According to CNN, the American victims included a soldier and a civilian contractor.

Provincial government spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told the AP an Afghan soldier had turned his gun on Americans and started shooting.  He said:

"Initial reports indicate that a misunderstanding happened between Afghan army soldiers and American soldiers."

Shahid said investigators had been sent to the scene, adding it was unclear if the shooter was among the casuaties.

According to the BBC, at least 52 foreign soldiers this year alone have been killed in green on blue attacks – half of them Americans.

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