Taleban kill two soldiers

Two French Foreign Legion soldiers have died after an Afghan army soldier shot at them while their unit was engaged in a support mission for Afghanistan’s forces in the Tagab valley.

The shooting yesterday was the latest in a string of attacks by “rogue” soldiers and police, or by insurgents who had infiltrated security forces, that have killed dozens of foreign soldiers.

This year has been the deadliest for French forces in Afghanistan since the international operation began in 2001. Yesterday’s deaths bring the number of French troops killed this year to 26, and 78 over the entire 10-year conflict.

They also bring the December toll for Nato troops killed in Afghanistan to 25, while the year’s toll so far is 541. The yearly total is considerably lower than for 2010, when more than 700 troops died. The number of wounded has remained high, dipping only slightly from last year’s total of more than 5,000 service personnel.

Taleban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the attacker as Mohammed Ibrahim. The attack took place at a base in Shamshad, about 40 miles north-east of Kabul.