London, Nov. 6 : The British Army has launched a massive search operation to catch the Afghan police officer who shot five UK soldiers dead in Afghanistan.

M16 intelligence officers, special forces liaison officers and surveillance drones are being used to track Gulbuddin, who is said to be holed up in a Taliban stronghold, The Sun reports.

After killing three Grenadier Guards and two Royal Military Police members, the Taliban reportedly welcomed Gulbuddin with flowers.

Satellite imagery and high-tech new reconnaissance aircraft such as the new Astor Sentinel will be used to track any movements from the Nad-e-Ali area in Helmand, where the shooting took place.

The squaddies, who were training the Afghan police, had taken off their body armour and were drinking tea when the shooter struck.

Six other soldiers were seriously wounded alongside two Afghans.

It is believed that Gulbuddin, who fled the scene of the killing on a motorbike, was smuggled out of the area along drug running routes used by the Taliban.

He had joined the tribal-led Afghani police force three years ago and did his initial training in Kandahar.

He was known by local elders to have had links to the Taliban.

Reports suggest he had recently argued with his commanders.

Ninety-three British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan so far this year. (ANI)