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Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan: MOD

30 October 2012 18:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Two British soldiers were shot dead by a man wearing Afghan police uniform at a checkpoint in Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) said, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The two soldiers, from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, were shot and killed at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, the MOD said in a statement.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Major Laurence Roche, said: "The loss of these soldiers is a huge blow to the Royal Gurkha Rifles and everyone serving in Task Force Helmand. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow Gurkhas at this time."

Similar attacks have increased in recent months.

Two British soldiers were shot dead at a checkpoint in the same district last month.

Three British soldiers have died at a checkpoint after being shot by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform in July.

Two British soldiers were shot dead at a patrol base in Helmand province by members of the Afghan police force in May.

Another two were shot dead by a rogue Afghan soldier at the entrance to the British headquarters in Lashkar Gar in Helmand province in March.

The number of British military deaths now stands at 437 since the country began its operation in Afghanistan in 2001.

Britain has planned to withdraw most of its forces by the end of 2014.