Afghanistan: Foreign Spies Infiltrating Our Army

Karzai blames neighboring countries for 'green on blue' attacks
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 23, 2012 2:38 PM CDT
Afghanistan: Foreign Spies Infiltrating Our Army
In this Wednesday, May 16, 2012 photo, Afghan National Army soldiers train with their M16 rifle at a firing range at the 203 Thunder Corps base in Gardez, Paktia province, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Why are so many Afghan soldiers killing their NATO allies? They're not; foreign spies are. Or at least, that's what Hamid Karzai's office said today, saying that based on interrogations and other evidence, the main culprits behind the so-called "green on blue" attacks were from neighboring countries. "There is no doubt there is infiltration," a Karzai spokesman said. Though he didn't name which countries, Pakistan and Iran would be the usual suspects, the New York Times reports.

That's at odds with NATO's explanation, which is that most of the attacks stemmed from personal or cultural issues, with only about 1 in 10 resulting from infiltration. But one commander said it could well be a factor. "We certainly don't see this as the one," a colonel said. But "we don’t know what’s causing them, and we’re looking at everything." A top Pakistani official deemed the insinuation "hogwash." (More Afghanistan stories.)

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