Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the militants claimed responsibility for the attack.
One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the incident was a "green-on-blue" attack by a member of the Afghan security forces in Nangarhar province. "When heroes fall, Americans grieve", Pence said.
However, according to local sources, the attack was an insider attack targeting U.S. soldiers by an Afghan solider. "An investigation has already begun", he said. American officials say the military has proposed sending an additional 2,000 to 4,000 USA troops to Afghanistan, but the number may ultimately depend on how many additional troops are committed by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners.
The rogue soldier, a commando who headed an 11-man unit, was also killed in return fire.
Three U.S. soldiers were killed and another was wounded Saturday in eastern Afghanistan, the Pentagon said. "And our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these American heroes".
But a USA military official confirmed three fatalities - Army Rangers - in the attack.
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The DUP has proved hugely controversial in the past over the homophobic and sectarian views of some of its representatives. One organiser led chants of "racist, sexist, anti-gay, the DUP has got to go ".
Western officials say most such attacks stem from personal grudges and cultural misunderstandings rather than insurgent plots.
It also comes as the Taliban ramp up their campaign against the government in Afghanistan, and as US President Donald Trump mulls sending more troops into the lengthy conflict. Such strikes have bred deep mistrust between local and foreign forces.
"Today at around noon an Afghan commando opened fire on United States troops in Achin district, killing two American soldiers".
The number of insider attacks spiked in 2012 but have since become less common, a reduction attributed to new security procedures and better vetting of Afghan security forces.
Afghanistan has suffered a string of violent attacks in recent weeks after the Taliban launched their spring offensive, including attacks in the capital city of Kabul that killed and wounded hundreds.
The Telegraph reports that the Taliban controls at least 80 percent of Helmand province, considered one of the deadliest provinces of the ongoing 16-year-old war for the American-led coalition and their Afghan allies.
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