NATO soldier killed in firefight between US, Afghan forces

Jalalabad (Afghanistan) (AFP) - An American soldier was killed Wednesday in a firefight between US and Afghan troops in eastern Afghanistan, the first apparent insider attack since Washington announced a delay in troop withdrawals from the country.

So-called "green-on-blue" attacks -- when Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on international troops -- have been a major problem during NATO's long years fighting alongside Afghan forces.

Wednesday's attack marked the second such fatal incident since the start of the year, highlighting long-simmering tensions between Afghan and foreign forces.

The gunfight erupted after an Afghan soldier opened fire on an American delegation outside the governor's compound in Jalalabad, the capital of the militant-infested province of Nangarhar.

"US soldiers returned fire, killing the shooter and wounding two other members of the Afghan National Army. We are investigating to find out the motive behind the shooting," Nangarhar police chief Fazel Ahmad Shirzad told AFP.

An American soldier, who was part of a unit devoted to training and advising Afghan forces, was also killed, US officials told AFP.

The "incident in Jalalabad today resulted in the death of one Resolute Support service member", said a brief statement from Resolute Support, the new name for the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Monica Cummings, the US embassy spokeswoman, said the incident occurred after a senior US official held a meeting with the provincial governor in Jalalabad.

"All Chief of Mission personnel of the visiting party are accounted for," she added in a statement, without offering any more details.

- Fierce mistrust -

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NATO soldier killed in firefight between US, Afghan forces