Two Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan

FAREWELLED: Two special forces soldiers embrace as the C-130 carrying the body of Australian Sergeant Brett Wood, departs Tarin Kot Airfield.
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FAREWELLED: Two special forces soldiers embrace as the C-130 carrying the body of Australian Sergeant Brett Wood, departs Tarin Kot Airfield.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has vowed to hunt down the Afghan soldier who shot and killed his Australian counterpart at a patrol base in southern Afghanistan yesterday.

Lance Corporal Andrew Gordon Jones, 25, from Queensland, was one of two Australian soldiers to lose their lives in separate incidents in Afghanistan yesterday.

Lieutenant Marcus Sean Case, based in Sydney, died after a helicopter crash. Five other ADF soldiers were injured and were in a "satisfactory" condition, Ms Gillard said.

She said Australian forces were making "very determined efforts" to find the alleged gunman in what was described by Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as "a very bad day" for the ADF.

Twenty-six Australian soldiers have now died in Afghanistan, with more than 170 wounded in the decade-long conflict, Defence Minister Stephen Smith said.

'SHOT BY AFGHAN SOLDIER'

Australian troops at a forward operating base in the Chora Valley, Afghanistan.

"I don't want to jump to any conclusions," Ms Gillard said in Canberra. "But it is very shocking and I think many Australians will find it very disturbing."

It is believed Lance Corporal Jones was shot while on guard duty with the ANA soldier at a patrol base north of Tarin Kowt, the capital of Oruzgan Province, yesterday evening local time.

"He sustained three wounds - that's the only thing that we've got at the moment that might suggest three shots ... but I wouldn't confirm that."

The Australian was given "substantial treatment" at the base" and flown to an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) medical centre at Tarin Kowt within the hour but did not survive the shooting, Defence said.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said the fact that "multiple shots were fired" suggested the shooting was deliberate and not an accident.

He said a hunt for the gunman from the ANA 4th Brigade was under way, and added that all men recruited to the ANA were biometrically enrolled. The biometrics program was established in 2009 and collects the fingerprints, iris scans and facial images of Afghan soldiers, the US agency involved in its implementation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said.

"We have his name, his service number and a record of his service. This was not an imposter," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

But the New York Times, quoting the local Afghan commander, General Hamid, said the shooting stemmed from an argument, and the Afghan soldier had "turned his weapon on him, killing him".

A Taliban spokesman also told the Times the attacker was an insurgent disguised as an ANA soldier.

The Defence chief acknowledged the shooting "raised serious questions about the security measures we have in place".

"I can't speak today about the motivation of this Afghan National Army soldier or any associations he may have or the amount of planning that did or didn't go into the attack," he said.

"We're obviously going to take a very close look how this occurred, why this occurred and what if anything could have been done to prevent it."

Air Chief Marshal Houston also reaffirmed the ADF's commitment to "our mentoring role" with Afghan troops.

"There is a genuine bond between the forces," he said.

He added that the lance corporal had served for seven years in the Australian Army and had previous experience in East Timor. He arrived in Afghanistan last year.

"I am told he was a loyal, reliable and very trusted member of his unit," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

"Though he was quiet and reserved he enjoyed a joke with his mates and was always the first among them to volunteer when work was required."

HELICOPTER CRASH

Lieutenant Case died after a helicopter crash about 90 kilometres from Tarin Kowt in Zabul Province, southern Afghanistan a few hours after the shooting.

"At this stage, we simply do not know what happened," Air Chief Marshal Houston said about the Chinook crash, adding that it was not known if the helicopter suffered mechanical problems or if there was "enemy action" in the area at the time it went down.

Lieutenant Case, who had served in East Timor and during Queensland's flood rescues, was not part of the Chinook crew but was one of the passengers on board the helicopter, Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

A US helicopter was nearby at that time and the lieutenant was flown to the Role II medical facility in Qalat, about 70 kilometres south of the crash site, but he was unabled to be saved.

Five other Australian soldiers were injured in the crash and taken to the Role III medical facility in Kandahar. The Chinook could not be retrieved and was destroyed where it crashed, he added.

The families of both the men have been informed of their deaths, Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

The Prime Minister sent her "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the soldiers "in the depths of their loss".

"The nation will be thinking of these two families today," she said.

"They will be thinking of them with warmth, they will be sending the sincere best wishes at this incredibly difficult time for these two families and for our nation."

- Sydney Morning Herald with AAP