Pakistan denies involvement in Karzai attack

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-27-2008 08:57

Pakistan has rejected an accusation that its top spy agency organized an assassination attempt on Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai. The allegation, made by an Afghan official, has sunk relations to a new low.

Pakistan on Thursday rejected Afghan claims that its main  spy service masterminded an attempt to kill President  Hamid Karzai, heightening tensions between the two allies  in the "war on terror."(AFP/File/Shah Marai)

Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh pointed the finger last month, saying suspects involved in the attempt on Karzai had exchanged mobile phone text messages with people in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions and the city of Peshawar.

His spokesman went further on Wednesday, claiming that Afghan intelligence could prove Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, was involved.

Saeed Ansari, spoksman Afghan Nat'l Directory for Security, said, "The intelligence service of Pakistan is behind the April incident of the attack on Hamid Karzai and also, as I explained, about the link with Humayun (the man accused of attacking the Serena Hotel in Kabul in January 2008). After the Serena Hotel incident he escaped to Pakistan and lived in Lahore. It shows that the Pakistan intelligence service is directly behind the latest incidents."

But Pakistan described the allegations as baseless and irresponsible.

Mohammed Sadiq, spokesman Pakistani Foreign Ministry, said, "These allegations suggest that responsible members in the Afghan government perhaps wish to re-ignite the blame game. Pakistan rejects these baseless and irresponsible allegations and the attitudes and proclivities behind them."

Karzai escaped unharmed when assailants opened gun and mortar fire towards the president and scores of senior officials and foreign diplomats during a military parade in downtown Kabul in April.

Editor:Du Xiaodan