US intelligence explains when friends are the worst enemies

Supposedly friendly Afghan security forces have attacked coalition troops 45 times since May 2007, US defence department officials told the House Armed Services Committee yesterday, for the first time laying out details and analysis of attacks that have killed 70 and wounded 110.

The officials said in most cases the Afghans acted out of personal motivation and were not directed by insurgents.

The second most common circumstances involved insurgents impersonating or infiltrating Afghan security forces. On 20 January four French troops were shot dead by an Afghan soldier, an incident which moved France to threaten an earlier than planned withdrawal.