KABUL (Reuters/AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday a suicide bombing that wounded his intelligence chief was plan-ned in Quetta and that he would raise the issue with Islamabad.
Karzai stopped short of blaming the Pakistani government directly, but said the issue would be raised with neighbouring Pakistan. “This attack was plotted... from Quetta in Pakistan,” he added. “Of course we will be seeking clarification from Pakistan because we know this man who came in the name of a guest to meet Asadullah Khalid came from Pakistan. We know that for a fact,” said Karzai. “We will be firmly and clearly seeking clarification and asking for any information that they may have.”
Karzai said the Taliban militant group was not behind the attack in the heart of the capital, 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 in this regard gives us accurate information,” he said.