Two Soldiers Poison, Attack Sleeping Thirteen Fellow Troops

Birth of Afghan army is British exit strategy In the mountainous outskirts of the Afghan capital, on a vast exercise area littered with rusting Soviet-era tanks and derelict buildings, British infantry commander Lieutenant Colonel Nick Ilic explains why training the Afghan National Army is crucial to British success in Afghanistan: †It is absolutely fundamental we get this right. This is our exit strategy. The guys down south in Helmand and elsewhere are holding the line, creating a safe environment for us to train the Afghan National Army (ANA) to the right standard and quality so they can take on the fight when they‚re ready.British, American and other NATO soldiers are working together to train and mentor thousands of ANA soldiers each month at the flagship Military Training Centre, Kabul (KMTC).

Thirteen Afghan army soldiers were killed in their sleep after two fellow soldiers poisoned them and later opened fire on them in Afghanistan’s embattled northern Kunduz province, officials said on Tuesday.

Gen. Dawlat Wazir, the spokesman for the ministry of defence said the ministry has launched an investigation into the incident. “The two soldiers deserted the small base after killing their fellow troops in Zakhil area on the outskirts of Kunduz city, the capital of the province.

“We have sent a team to the area to investigate the matter,’’ Wazir said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, but said the base was attacked by its troops and all weapons were seized. A provincial council member from the province, Amruddin Wali, said the two soldiers were affiliated with the Taliban. Wali noted that the defense ministry however has not clarified the soldiers’ affiliation with the insurgent group yet.

Source: Vanguard