A day after four French troops serving with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed by a man dressed as an Afghan soldier in an attack in the Taghab valley of the eastern province of Kapisa, and contrary to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s reactions to it, the French military said on Saturday that it would not be withdrawing any time soon

French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet and Chief of Defense staff Adm. Edouard Guillaud flew to Afghanistan on Saturday after Sarkozy threatened to order a swift exit of its 3,600 troops on the ground.

"The entire point of this visit is to assess the position that we have to take," Longuet told reporters in Kabul. "We must reflect in order to support a mission that is a success."

French military spokesman Col. Thierry Burkhard said on Saturday that while the attacker appeared to have the authorizations needed to enter the base, French and Afghan forces have had a good relationship.

"After an unacceptable assassination like this, by one person among 3,000, it remains to be seen what the impact will be on the confidence that the two sides have with one another," he said.

He added that the French defense minister and the French army's chief of staff were traveling to Afghanistan. After they report back, Sarkozy said the government will decide how to continue.

Paris reacts





Sarkozy inherited the Afghan conflict, but supported it in the past

Sarkozy responded to the attacks on Friday by suspending all joint operations in the country.



"The French army is alongside its allies, but we cannot accept that a single one of our soldiers be wounded or killed by our allies. It's unacceptable," said Sarkozy.

According to an ISAF spokesman, the Afghan soldier has been apprehended and was being held in detention.

Taliban attacks

The Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for the shooting, which also injured at least 15 other French soldiers. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Afghan soldier had been recruited, adding, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has recruited people in important positions…some of them have already accomplished their missions."

The attack comes less than a month after two French soldiers were shot dead in the same region by a man dressed as an Afghan soldier, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.

The newest incident brings the number of French troops killed in the past 12 months to 30, and the total number of French casualties since it deployed troops to the country in 2001 to more than 80.

US Navy Captain John Kirby at the Pentagon responded to Friday's shooting by saying attacks on ISAF troops by Afghan allies was a "systemic problem."

ISAF troops are slated to handover all active duty to Afghan forces in 2014

"We do believe that they do appear to be increasing in frequency in recent months. What we can't discern is a cause for that," Kirby said. "We're certainly concerned about these incidents and ISAF officials are taking a look at it. But we also don't believe this is an endemic or systemic problem. The great majority of our partnered operations, and frankly most of our operations are partnered, are done successfully, smoothly and efficiently."

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen offered his condolences and also addressed the issue of rogue Afghan troops attacking ISAF soldiers.

"Such tragic incidents are terrible and grab headlines but they are isolated," Rasmussen said.

France is the fourth largest contributor to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, behind the US, the UK and Germany.

Author: Darren Mara, Sarah Berning, Mark Hallam (AFP, AP, dpa)

Editor: Sean Sinico