Attack on Khalid organized in Pakistan: Karzai

KABUL) chief Asadullah Khalid on Thursday had been organized in the Pakistani city of Quetta.

Khalid was injured in his guesthouse in the Taimany neighborhood of Kabul as a suicide bomber posing as a Taliban emissary entered the building and blew himself up.  

Karzai told a press conference in Kabul that the attacker was able to reach Khalid because as a guest he was not thoroughly searched by security guards.

Although the Taliban have claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, the president said the attack was too complicated in planning and execution to have been carried out by the militant group.

The militants are divided into three groups, according to Karzai: One group is linked to the intelligence agencies of neighboring counties, an Afghan government euphemism reserved for Pakistan; while the third group is the Taliban who could not carry out such complex attacks, he added.

The attack on Khalid was similar to the 2011 assassination of former Afghan President and High Peace Council Chairman Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani, Karzai said.

“We will clearly raise the issue with the Pakistani president and officials during a meeting in Turkey in the next few days,” Karzai said.  “We will discuss what they did to prevent attacks planned in Quetta city of Pakistan.”

Regarding Pakistan’s alleged involvement, Karzai said it would be disclosed after the investigation is completed, adding that terrorist attacks occurred whenever there was progress in peace process.

Karzai pledged to continue the peace effort saying peace was in the interest of the country. myn

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