Updated on
Summary Afghan authorities have arrested or sacked hundreds of Afghan soldiers over attacks on NATO troops.
Afghanistan said Wednesday it had arrested or sacked hundreds of Afghan soldiers over attacks on NATO troops, trying to stem an increase in shootings that threatens to undermine Western withdrawal plans.The scale of attacks is unprecedented in modern warfare. Afghan personnel have opened fire on their NATO colleagues more than 30 times so far this year, killing at least 45 foreign troops -- the majority of them American.The shootings threaten to derail NATOs flagship strategy of training Afghan security forces to take over when the bulk of the 130,000 US-led foreign troops leave the country at the end of 2014.US officials have expressed increasing concern over the attacks and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta last month called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to crack down on them.Defence ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi said Wednesday: So far, hundreds of people have either been arrested or expelled from the army. We have found evidence against some people and some suspicious people have been arrested.When asked for further details, Azimi gave no breakdown on precise numbers. Nor was it clear when the action was taken against the soldiers.
