Despite Sharp Decline, Insider Attacks Remain a Threat

An Afghan soldier opened fire at a UK-run training facility in Afghanistan yesterday, killing a US major general and wounding 15 other ISAF soldiers, including a German brigadier general. Maj Gen Harold Greene is the most senior US soldier killed in action overseas since the Vietnam War.

These insider attacks, also known as 'green on blue' attacks, have seriously hampered Nato's efforts to train Afghanistan's 350,000 strong security force. The number of coalition troops killed in these incidents peaked at 61 in 2012 before tighter monitoring and better screening brought about a sharp decline. However, the danger has not been eliminated entirely and costly attacks like the one that occurred yesterday are bound to create further tension and mistrust between Nato troops and their allies in the run-up to ISAF's withdrawal from Afghanistan.