Karzai says attack on Afghan intelligence chief planned in Pakistan

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday a suicide bombing that wounded his intelligence chief was planned in the Pakistani city of Quetta and that he would raise the issue with Islamabad. Karzai stopped short of blaming the Pakistani government directly. But he told a news conference he would raise the issue with Pakistan. On Thursday, a suicide bomber posing as a peace messenger wounded Afghanistan’s intelligence chief, Asadullah Khalid, in another sign that the government is struggling to improve security ahead of the withdrawal of Nato combat troops by the end of 2014. The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, although it often makes exaggerated claims about attacks on foreign troops or government targets. Karzai said the militant group was not behind the attack in the heart of Kabul. “Apparently the Taliban claimed responsibility like many other attacks but such a complicated attack and a bomb hidden inside his body, this is not Taliban work,” Karzai said. “It’s a completely professional (job)…Taliban cannot do that and there are bigger and professional hands involved in it.” Karzai said he would discuss the issue with Pakistani officials during a meeting in Turkey. “This is a very important issue for us and we hope that the Pakistan government in this regard gives us accurate information and cooperates seriously, so the doubts we have end,” he said. Ties between Kabul and Islamabad have been strained by cross-border raids by militants groups and accusations that Pakistan on some level backs Afghan insurgent groups. Pakistan denies the accusations and says it is committed to helping bring peace to Afghanistan. The leadership of the Afghan Taliban fled to Quetta after their government was toppled in the wake of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.