KABUL — A joint U.S.-Afghan force called in an airstrike on what turned out to be an Afghan army post after taking fire from there before dawn Saturday, killing four Afghan soldiers and prompting an angry demand for punishment from the country’s Defense Ministry.
Both NATO and Afghan authorities described the clash around a snow-covered outpost in Wardak province southwest of Kabul as a case of mistaken identity. NATO called the attack “unfortunate” and promised a full investigation.
Nevertheless, the strike threatens to strain relations between NATO and the Afghan government at a time when both sides are calling for closer partnership in the fight against the Taliban. The fighting came on the heels of several recent cases of bloodshed between Afghans and Americans.
NATO and Afghan officials said an Afghan interpreter angry over “job issues” shot and killed two U.S. soldiers Friday before he was gunned down by an American service member in the same district as the airstrike. NATO officials said the two attacks appeared to be unrelated.
The fighting Saturday erupted about 3 a.m. when a group of U.S. Special Forces and Afghan commandos approached a remote Afghan army outpost that was set up about 18 months ago to guard the main highway between Kabul and Kandahar.
NATO said the Afghan soldiers thought the unit was the Taliban and started shooting.
The joint force returned fire and called in the airstrike, which killed the four Afghan soldiers, NATO and the Afghan Defense Ministry said. Seven Afghan soldiers at the checkpoint were wounded, said provincial spokesman Shahidullah Shahid.
“Besides expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs, the Afghan Defense Ministry is condemning this incident,” an Afghan statement said. “After the investigation is completed, the Defense Ministry wants to bring those responsible to justice.”
