Czech soldier killed in apparent insider attack in Afghanistan

The attack came after a weekend of violence while elections were held. EPA/JALIL REZAYEE

A Czech member of the Nato-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan was killed and two others wounded on Monday in the western province of Herat, the Czech Defence Ministry said.

Earlier, the Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul said initial reports indicated the attack was carried out by a member of the Afghan security forces. It had not released the nationality of the service members.

The Czech ministry said that the two injured soldiers had been taken to Bagram military hospital and did not face life-threatening injuries. It said the attack was on a vehicle but gave no further details, although a spokeswoman said the incident occurred on a base.

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The Czech ministry and local officials said the attack happened in Shindand district to the south of Herat city, an area with heavy Taliban presence.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, a spokesman for the insurgents said.

The attack was the latest in a series this year in which US or coalition troops have been killed by Afghan soldiers or police. Last month, defence secretary James Mattis said training and vetting of Afghan forces was being stepped up to minimise the so-called insider attacks.

The incident came only days after the Nato commander in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller, escaped unhurt when the bodyguard of a provincial governor opened fire on a group of US and Afghan officials in the southern province of Kandahar.

In August, three Czech soldiers were killed in a suicide attack, the deadliest incident involving the Czech army’s foreign missions in four years.