Eight troops from the Nato-led force in Afghanistan were killed in a shooting involving an Afghan Air Force pilot at Kabul's airport today, Nato said.
In one of the deadliest incidents of "rogue" Afghans turning their weapons on foreign soldiers, a contractor was also killed in the shooting, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.
The shooting follows a string of attacks by Afghan forces against their Nato-led mentors carried out either by "rogue" soldiers or by insurgents in uniform who have managed to infiltrate their ranks.
Such incidents highlight the challenge for US and Nato forces as they try to prepare for a gradual handover of security responsibilities that is scheduled to begin in July and end with the withdrawal of all foreign combat troops by the end of 2014.
The Taliban released a statement claiming one of its fighters, named Azizullah, was dressed in military uniform and carried out the attack after gaining access to the compound.
"[He] shot his weapon at many foreign and Afghan forces who were in a hangar, killing nine foreign troops and five Afghan soldiers," the Taliban spokesman said.
Reuters