Nato's chief responded to Afghan President Hamid Karzai blaming Sunday's insurgent attacks on the intelligence agencies of Afghanistan "and especially Nato", saying intelligence was never a 100 percent guarantee.
"We do all we can to prevent such attacks in co-ordination with the Afghan security forces and the Afghan intelligence services, but of course you can never give a 100 percent guarantee," Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in an interview with TOLOnews Monday.
Karzai called for a "full investigation" into Sunday's events, describing the terrorists' "infiltration" as an "intelligence failure for us and especially Nato" in his first statement since insurgents attacked main areas of the country's capital and three other provinces on Sunday afternoon.
Rasmussen said the "blame game" did not help the situation when asked by TOLOnews about Karzai's comments.
"I think we are in this together. We should help each other," he said.
Karzai condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" during his regular Cabinet meeting on Monday, according to his press office, and praised the Afghan security forces for their valour in repelling the attack.
"Afghan security forces proudly displayed their ability which was itself an assurance to the people that they are capable of protecting their country," he said.
He also praised the security forces for "the caution and the care they exercised" in preventing any further harm to civilians and for a "relatively quick control of the situation".
Rasmussen also praised the Afghan forces for how they dealt with the situation.
"When such attacks actually happen, it's good to see that the Afghan security forces can take action in such an excellent manner," he said.
The Presidential office said that across the four provinces - Kabul, Nangarhar, Logar and Paktia - 4 civilians and 11 members of the Afghans security forces were killed, while 32 civilians and nearly 40 security personnel were injured.
Sunday's battle saw three main areas of Afghanistan's capital Kabul targeted by insurgents who were heavily armed and organised.
It took 18 hours for security forces to end the clashes in the capital, eventually requiring Isaf helicopter gunships to flush the insurgents out from their "bases" - three half-constructed buildings close to Western embassies, and government and security facilities.
As many as 36 terrorists were killed in all four provinces, and one insurgent was captured alive, Karzai's office said.
Karzai said he was deeply saddened by the events and offered his condolences to the families of the victims, and prayed for a quick recovery of the wounded.
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