MAZAR-I-SHARIF: Seven American troops were wounded on Saturday in an insider attack by an Afghan soldier at a military base, as the US appears set to boost its troop presence in the country.

The shootout at Camp Shaheen near northern Mazar-i-Sharif city is the second “green-on-blue” attack — where Afghan soldiers turn their weapons on international forces assisting them — reported this week.

It comes as Washington is expected to announce an increase in the US military deployment in the country to bolster Afghan forces who are struggling to contain the Taliban’s nationwide offensive.

“Seven US service members wounded, evacuated for treatment,” US-led Nato forces said in a brief statement on Twitter. “Insider attack Camp Shaheen, Mazar-e Sharif under investigation.”

The military coalition had earlier said that one Afghan soldier had been killed and another wounded in the incident.

The Taliban in a statement did not say if they were directly behind the attack, only crediting a “patriotic Afghan soldier” for the assault.

The latest attack comes just a week after an Afghan commando killed three American troops and wounded another in eastern Nangarhar province, in an insider attack that was claimed by the Taliban.

Camp Shaheen is the headquarters of the Afghan army’s 209th Corps where around 150 Afghan soldiers and policemen were killed in April when it was stormed by Taliban fighters dressed in military uniforms and armed with suicide vests.

Green-on-blue attacks have been a major problem during Nato’s long years fighting alongside Afghan forces. Western officials say most insider attacks stem from personal grudges and cultural misunderstandings rather than insurgent plots.

Analysts say such attacks are expected to increase this year as US troops engage with the Afghan military to double the size of its special forces, considered to be effective in the fight against insurgents.

The latest insider attack comes at a time of intensified violence and when the United States is actively considering sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said this week that he will present a new US military strategy for Afghanistan, along with adjusted troop numbers, in the coming weeks to President Donald Trump.

American military commanders in Afghanistan have requested thousands of additional boots on the ground to boost the Nato troop presence in the country.

US troops in Afghanistan currently number about 8,400, with another 5,000 from Nato allies, who mainly serve in a training and advisory capacity.

The Afghan conflict is the longest in American history, with US-led forces at war there since 2001,after the ousting of the Taliban regime.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2017