Lt.-Col Hammond receives a hug from his daughters as the last of Canada's troops return home from Afghanistan to Edmonton Garrison
Lt.-Col Lee Hammond (R) receives a hug from his daughters Daria Hammond, 13, and Katie Hammond (rear, obscured) as the last of Canada's troops return home from Afghanistan to Edmonton Garrison March 18, 2014. REUTERS/Dan Riedlhuber

A U.S. general has reportedly been killed after an Afghan gunman opened fire at a Kabul training facility on Tuesday, August 5. Even though there was no official disclosure of the identity of the deceased officer from the Pentagon, it was Maj. Gen. Harold Greene who was killed in the random firing, according to reports. Taliban did not take the responsibility of the killing even though its spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid appreciated the gunman's efforts.

CNN obtained that identity of the officer from U.S. officials as Pentagon said that he was one of the highest-ranked officers since 9/11. Pentagon did not officially disclose the name of the officer as it had to follow a policy which would restrict the authorities from disclosing the identity within 24 hours of informing the family. However, the "very experienced officer" was elaborately described as an "expert in infrastructure improvement, logistics."

The U.S. general was killed on Tuesday, August 5 as an undercover attacker came in disguise of an Afghan soldier. The armed man opened fire at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University at Camp Qargha in Kabul. The gunman, on the other hand, was killed after he wantonly fired at international soldiers. In addition to the U.S. general, 15 more people were wounded in the incident. Most of those were American while there was one German brigadier general as well.

U.S. President Barack Obama was informed about the killing. According to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, Obama had a discussion with top U.S. commander Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, who is stationed in Afghanistan, regarding the matter. "This shooting, of course is a painful reminder of the service and sacrifice that our men and women in uniform make every day for this country (Afghanistan)," Earnest said.

Afghan forces have joined hands with ISAF to conduct the investigation of the incident. The gunman, who came in a soldier's uniform, was believed to have served the Afghan armed forced before. According to the Afghan Defence Ministry, it was an undercover "terrorist" who attacked the officers. Afghan soldiers shot the attacker dead, the ministry claimed.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au