U.S., Afghan troops killed in shootout during mission

KABUL — A shootout between Afghan and U.S. soldiers during joint operations in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday resulted in fatalities on both sides, Afghan and U.S. officials said.

Details of the incident, in Nangarhar province where U.S. Special Forces were helping Afghan commandos and the Afghan army clear an area threatened by the Taliban, were scarce. It was not clear whether the firefight was the work of Taliban infiltrators, a major concern in the past, or the result of an argument between allied forces that turned deadly.

Two Afghan officials said five or six U.S. soldiers and six Afghan soldiers were killed. A U.S. military official said there were at least six American casualties and confirmed that they included fatalities but did not say how many.

The U.S. military command in Afghanistan confirmed that a joint U.S. and Afghan force had come under “direct fire” in Nangarhar, without providing details.

“We are assessing the situation and will provide further updates as they become available,” said Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Both the Taliban as well as the Islamic State branch in Afghanistan have had a foothold in Nangarhar province. In Sherzad district, where the shootout took place, the joint operation had pushed the Taliban from around the main highway and was continuing to clear villages.

Insider attacks by Afghan forces on Americans, known as “green on blue,” were so frequent during one stage of the war that U.S. commanders feared the resulting mistrust could derail their mission.

The shooting comes in a delicate time in the war, as U.S. negotiators have been locked in weeks of talks with the Taliban to finalize a peace deal. If a Taliban hand is seen in the shooting, it is sure to complicate those talks, which officials and diplomats suggested Saturday had reached a promising stage.

If the attack on U.S. forces came from Afghan troops, that could jeopardize the already strained diplomacy between Washington and Kabul. President Trump has long wanted to end the U.S. military role in the 19year war in Afghanistan, including withdrawing forces faster than some of his commanders recommend.

Mujib Mashal is a New York Times writer.