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Two British soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan Two British soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan
(35 minutes later)
Two British soldiers have been shot dead at a checkpoint in Afghanistan by a man wearing a local police uniform, the Ministry of Defence has said.Two British soldiers have been shot dead at a checkpoint in Afghanistan by a man wearing a local police uniform, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The soldiers were both from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.The soldiers were both from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
They were killed in Nahr-e Saraj in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday. Their families have been informed.They were killed in Nahr-e Saraj in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday. Their families have been informed.
Fifty-six international personnel have been killed so far this year by Afghans wearing police or army uniforms.Fifty-six international personnel have been killed so far this year by Afghans wearing police or army uniforms.
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Maj Laurence Roche, said: "I am saddened to report the deaths of two soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles who were shot and killed by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Maj Laurence Roche, said: "I am saddened to report the deaths of two soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles who were shot and killed by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.
"The loss of these soldiers is a huge blow to The Royal Gurkha Rifles and everyone serving in Task Force Helmand. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow Gurkhas at this time.""The loss of these soldiers is a huge blow to The Royal Gurkha Rifles and everyone serving in Task Force Helmand. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow Gurkhas at this time."
Last week, army medic, Cpl Channing Day, of 3 Medical Regiment, and Royal Marine Cpl David O'Connor, of 40 Commando, were killed in a gun battle in Afghanistan. The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Kabul, reported that Afghan sources said the killer escaped after the attack.
An initial review into their deaths has revealed the killings were not caused by "friendly fire". 'Sought refuge'
Local police sources said the gunman may have sought refuge with the Taliban after the killings.
These latest deaths bring the total number of British troops killed in so-called "insider" attacks this year alone to 11. That means about a quarter of all British service personnel killed this year have been at the hands of men dressed in the uniform of the Afghan security forces.
The trend is a cause for concern but what is also particularly worrying about these latest deaths is that they have happened after both Nato and the Afghans have introduced a raft of measures to prevent such incidents.
They include stricter vetting of Afghan recruits and better intelligence gathering. However, there can be no guarantees that these "green on blue" attacks can be stopped altogether.
Nato has acknowledged that insider attacks can undermine confidence and trust between Nato forces and the Afghans they are training.
That said, there is no suggestion of a change in strategy. Nato forces will have to continue working with the Afghans to ensure they can leave by the end of 2014.
Of the 45 British personnel killed in Afghanistan this year, at least 11 have been killed by Afghans they served alongside.
Last week, army medic Cpl Channing Day, of 3 Medical Regiment, and Royal Marine Cpl David O'Connor, of 40 Commando, were killed in a gun battle in Afghanistan.
An initial review into their deaths has revealed the killings were not caused by "friendly fire". Their bodies were being repatriated on Tuesday.
The latest deaths take the total number of British service personnel killed since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001 to 437.The latest deaths take the total number of British service personnel killed since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001 to 437.
It comes as Nato prepares to withdraw most combat troops by the end of 2014. BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said Nato was determined that such "green-on-blue" attacks would not derail the process of training Afghan security forces.
Nato is preparing to withdraw most combat troops by the end of 2014.
A spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) earlier told the AFP news agency: "An individual wearing an Afghan National Police uniform turned his weapon against Isaf forces in southern Afghanistan, killing two soldiers."A spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) earlier told the AFP news agency: "An individual wearing an Afghan National Police uniform turned his weapon against Isaf forces in southern Afghanistan, killing two soldiers."