HERAT, Afghanistan (AFP) - Nine Afghan policemen were killed in international military air strikes called in after troops clashed with police in southwestern Afghanistan, provincial authorities said on Sunday.
Police engaged soldiers with the Afghan National Army (ANA) and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), kicking off the fighting, he said.
“The ANA requested air support, and ISAF bombed the police post that killed nine police and injured five police,” he said.
The police chief of Farah’s Anar Dara district was among the wounded and was in a serious condition, he said.
The police commander for western Afghanistan, Ikramuddin Yawar, confirmed the incident and said he had sent a team to the area to investigate.
“Last night at around 1:30, a clash took place between ANA, ANP (Afghan National Police) and ISAF, each mistaking the other side as Taliban,” Yawar said. “Nine police were killed and five wounded.”
The Afghan defence ministry and international forces said they were checking on the report but did not immediately have details.
There have been several deadly incidents of “friendly fire” in Afghanistan where there are several Afghan and international security forces involved in the fight against Taliban insurgents.
The forces have been accused of not coordinating their operations properly, resulting in cases of mistaken identity.
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