U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan hit 2,000

KABUL— The killing of an American serviceman in an exchange of fire with allied Afghan soldiers has pushed U.S. military deaths in the war to 2,000.

The toll has climbed steadily in recent months with a spate of attacks by Afghan army and police — supposed allies — against American and NATO troops. Attacks by Afghan soldiers or police — or insurgents disguised in their uniforms — have killed 52 American and other NATO troops so far this year.

“We have to get on top of this. It is a very serious threat to the campaign,” Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, said about the insider threat.

The top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, was blunter.

“I’m mad as hell about them, to be honest with you,” Allen told CBS’s 60 Minutesin an interview broadcast on Sunday. “We’re willing to sacrifice a lot for this campaign, but we’re not willing to be murdered for it.”

On Sunday, U.S. officials confirmed the deaths of two Americans, a service member and a civilian contractor killed late Saturday.

The fighting started when insurgents attacked a checkpoint set up by U.S. forces in eastern Wardak province, said Shahidullah Shahid, a provincial government spokesman. He said the insurgents apparently used mortars in the attack. The Americans thought they were under attack from their allies at a nearby Afghan army checkpoint and fired on it. The Afghan soldiers returned fire, Shahid said. An Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman said the shooting broke out due to a “misunderstanding.”