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NATO Soldier Dies Of Non-Combat Injuries In Afghanistan

214 days ago

(RTTNews) - The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan said Thursday that one of its service members has died of a non-battle related injury, east of the war-torn Asian country.

The international coalition force, however, did not disclose the identity or nationality of the deceased in accordance with its policy of not releasing details until the home country of the victims does so. Nevertheless, most ISAF troops stationed in eastern Afghanistan are Americans.

According to media estimates, some 359 ISAF personnel have now been killed in Afghanistan so far this year, including 276 US soldiers. Notably, most of the ISAF casualties have been in Southern Afghanistan, where the foreign coalition is attempting to retain control over the territories captured from Taliban militants over the past two years.

The final batch of 33,000 US troops President Barack Obama sent to Afghanistan last year as part of Surge Forces had returned home on schedule in August after successfully completing their mission. Nevertheless, some 68,000 American soldiers remain in Afghanistan to fight Taliban insurgency alongside their NATO and Afghan partners.

Currently, there are over 104,900 foreign troops from more than 48 countries in Afghanistan to contain a resurgent Taliban in the land-locked country. The ISAF has already begun the process of entrusting security responsibilities of several provinces to Afghan forces.

The US and other allied nations involved in the Afghan mission are currently making serious efforts to get the Afghan security forces ready and capable of handling the country's security before the planned withdrawal of coalition troops end 2014.

However, there are wide concerns about the ability of Afghan security forces to counter the Taliban insurgency without the same level of foreign military assistance and presence.

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