WASHINGTON, June 14 (UPI) -- Rising attacks by Afghan security forces on U.S. and allied troops has led commanders to seek ways to relieve Afghan combat stress, a NATO investigation found.
The NATO investigation obtained by USA Today found there have been 22 such attacks since 2005, nine of them this year -- or 40 percent.
Such attacks since 2005 have killed 51 troops from the U.S.-led coalition and wounded 48, the newspaper said.
The review found 38 percent of the attacks were caused by "emotional, intellectual or physical stress due to presence in a combat environment." In addition, the investigation concluded 19 percent were caused by insurgents encouraging or blackmailing Afghan security forces to attack coalition troops.
The newspaper said the rise in attacks coincided with an increase in the size of Afghan security forces and the addition of 30,000 more U.S. troops last year.
The report comes after several recent attacks, including an April 27 attack in which an Afghan air force pilot killed eight U.S. Air Force officers and a U.S. contractor. Officials said stress appears to have caused the pilot to attack his nominal allies.
USA Today said there are about 100,000 U.S. troops in the country, with 290,000 Afghan soldiers and police officers.
