NATO SOLDIER KILLED IN SUICIDE ATTACK IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN

Kabul, 2 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/4 January 2013 (MINA) –A service member of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was killed following a suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday.

ISAF following a statement said, “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following a suicide attack by enemy forces in eastern Afghanistan Jan. 4.”

The statement did not disclose further information regarding the exact location of the incident and nationality of the deceased soldier. Khamaa press quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) generally do not disclose identities of the NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan, saying, “It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.”

This comes as a group of five Taliban militants attacked a joint Afghan-NATO military base in eastern Nangarhar province early Saturday morning.

Local officials in Nangarhar province said all five militants were killed during the clashes in Ghani Khel district, which lasted almost half an hour.

Taliban group immediately claimed responsibility behind the attack and said heavy casualties were incurred to Afghan and coalition security forces.

Casualties fell 60 percent in 2013 compared to a year earlier. More than 3,000 ISAF soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

US-led NATO forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan after more than a decade of fighting the Taliban, but negotiations have stalled on a security accord that would allow some US and NATO troops to stay after 2014. (T/P012/E1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)