The killings prompted France to threaten an early pullout from the Nato-led war. The claim of responsibility raises serious concerns about handing control of security over to the Afghan army and police, which Nato-led forces are currently in the process of doing before all foreign combat troops leave by the end of 2014.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has recruited people in important positions,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location, using another name the Islamist group call themselves.
“Some of them have already accomplished their missions.”
The four French soldiers died on the spot, he said. The killings in Kapisa province were the latest in a string of such attacks in which Afghan troops turn on their Western allies and mentors. While Nato has blamed Taliban infiltration in the past, it has also said stress, indiscipline and divided loyalties within the hastily trained ranks played a role. Such attacks are especially damaging as the Afghan National Army tries to win public trust before foreign troops leave.
The Taliban claim coincided with a visit to Kabul by the US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman. He is expected to meet President Hamid Karzai and other senior Afghan officials.
Friday’s attack also comes weeks after an offer from the Taliban to open a political office in Qatar as a prelude to possible peace talks with the United States and other nations. After the shooting — which took the French death toll to 82since the war began in 2001 — President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered all French military operations on the ground to be suspended and Defence Minister Gerard Longuet jetted into Kabul on Saturday.
A regional Taliban commander added that incidents such as a video showing US Marines urinating on corpses were boosting support for the group among Afghans and threatened more attacks. “Our missions have become easier because of incidents like the video,” he said.
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