Afghan Pilot Kills NATO Troops After ‘Argument’

A veteran Afghan military officer opened fire on foreign forces today after a dispute at the Kabul airport, killing several NATO troops, Afghan and coalition officials said. It was the latest in a spate of attacks that have occurred inside government or military installations. The Taliban claimed responsibility, but Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi said the gunman was a pilot who'd been in the Afghan military for 20 years, and that he'd "opened fire on foreigners after an argument."

The pilot was killed in the shooting, which occurred inside a facility used by the Afghan Air Force. NATO did not disclose the number or nationalities of the casualties pending notification of their families. Since March 2009, the coalition has recorded 20 incidents where a member of the Afghan security forces or someone in a security forces uniform attacked coalition forces, killing a total of 36. (More Afghanistan stories.)