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NATO soldiers killed by man in Afghan border police uniform
A man dressed in an Afghan Border Police uniform turned his weapon on American troops in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, killing six soldiers before being killed in a gun battle, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.
The incident appears to be one of the worst in a string of attacks in which members of Afghan security forces have turned against the international troops with whom they're supposed to be partnered.
All six service members killed were Americans, Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. David Lapan confirmed Monday afternoon. He wouldn't name those killed or the unit, pending notification of next of kin.
The incident took place in Nangarhar province, in the remote district of Pachir Agam, Afghan and U.S. officials said. The district, which borders Pakistan, is home to the Tora Bora mountains, where al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden made a last stand against invading U.S.-led forces in late 2001 before escaping to Pakistan.
U.S.-led troops have been attempting to train Afghan's border police to better control the border, which insurgents and smugglers cross easily.