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| Australian & Afghan troops on patrol (© Australian DoD) |
NATO has scaled back operations with Afghan soldiers and policemen to lower the risk of insider attacks, and reduce local tensions over an anti-Islam video that prompted protests in Afghanistan.
It's the second order that curbs contact between foreign troops and their Afghan partners, undermining the mantra that both sides are fighting the Taliban 'shoulder to shoulder'.
The directive could jeopardise the US-led coalition's key goal to get Afghan forces ready to take over security from foreign forces by the end of 2014 - just 27 months from now.
Until now, coalition troops routinely conducted operations such as patrolling or manning outposts with their Afghan counterparts.
Under the new rules issued on Sunday by Lieutenant General James Terry, such operations are no longer routine and require the approval of the regional commander.
Insider attacks have spiked in recent months.
Read the full story at SkyNews Australia