Pakistan, Iran behind Kabul bombing: MPs

KABUL not to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US.

Meshrano Jirga on the BSA — due on Thursday.

The Ministry of Interior said the dead included 10 civilians and three armed forces’ personnel. Twenty-nine civilians, including men, women and children, were injured.  

As usual, the Taliban have claimed responsibility said 33 security personnel had been killed or wounded in the attack, seen as a major security breach ahead of the tribal assembly.

Senator Inayatullah Ahmadzai said the attack had been organised by Pakistan’s intelligence service, the ISI. He asked the government to strongly react to the bombing by considering serious measures against Pakistan.

“Detained militants should be killed because in most cases they rejoin their associates in anti-government attacks after being freed,” he said.

His colleague Farida Kochi said Pakistan and Iran were involved in the attack because they were against the BSA.

A day earlier, National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta told the Wolesi Jirga only one neighbouring country had been opposed to the agreement, but he did not name the nation.

Kochi said Afghanistan was an independent country and it preserved the right to sign agreements with any country it wanted.

“Consulting the people of the country on the agreement is right, but there is no need to consult neighboring countries.”

But senator Balqis expressed her opposition to signing the BSA, saying the Loya Jirga lacked public mandate to make such an important decision. She accused foreign forces of killing civilians under the pretext of self-defence.

“The Taliban and the Americans have the same goal, both kill innocent Afghans by attacking them or dropping bombs on them,” she remarked.

mds/ma

Visits: 7