Afghan deaths ‘tragic incident’

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Afghan police and U.S.-led coalition troops mistook each other for the enemy in a battle before dawn Tuesday that left eight of the Afghans dead, officials said.

The deadly lapse in communication underscored the wide gaps -- and apparent mistrust -- between U.S. and Afghan security forces. President Hamid Karzai’s office labeled the deaths “a tragic incident” caused by a lack of cooperation and communication.

U.S. officials have said they are wary of telling Afghan forces about nighttime raids by U.S. Special Forces, the kind of operation apparently being conducted early Tuesday, for fear the target might be tipped off.

The U.S.-led coalition said a joint coalition-Afghan force on a mission early Tuesday against a suspected Taliban safe house was fired on first and responded with its own weapons, then summoned air support. It said no U.S. casualties were reported.

A presidential spokesman also said police initiated the shooting, but officers at the isolated post in Nangarhar province said U.S. troops fired first.

“The Americans came close to our checkpoint with the lights of their vehicles off,” said Esanullah, commander of the roadblock. “We shouted at them to stop, but they didn’t, and they opened fire on us.”

He said eight policemen were killed and four wounded.

Officers fired 49 rocket-propelled grenades and called for help from reserve police during the three-hour battle, said Esanullah, who uses one name.

Karzai’s spokesman, Karim Rahimi, said the incident underscored why the president has repeatedly called for increased cooperation between Afghan and international troops.