DHAKA: Afghanistan’s National Security Council, which is chaired by president Hamid Karzai, on Sunday accused ‘foreign intelligence services’ of being behind the deadly attack on a Kabul restaurant, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

‘The NSC said such sophisticated and complex attacks are not the work of the ordinary Taleban, and said without doubt foreign intelligence services beyond the border are behind such bloody attacks,’ a statement for the palace said, reports The Straits Times.

Pakistan was the main supporter of the former Taliban regime and Afghan officials have long voiced suspicions about the connections between the hardline movement and Islamabad’s powerful intelligence services.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for Friday’s suicide assault on a popular restaurant in central Kabul in which 21 people, including 13 foreigners, were killed.

BDST: 2140 HRS, JAN 19, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor