The Nato-led military strategy in Afghanistan has been thrown into disarray after joint on-the-ground operations were suspended because of a collapse in trust over the killings of Americans and other Nato soldiers by Afghan government forces.
The move, which came after a surge in the number of "insider attacks" by Afghan government soldiers and police officers, which have killed 51 Nato soldiers in 36 attacks this year, threatens the joint plan to train an effective Afghan army to keep the Taliban at bay after troops start pulling out.
General John Allen, the US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, ordered the suspension of joint combat operations and patrols "until further notice".