Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Official: Pakistani group behind Kabul attacks
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Official: Pakistani group behind Kabul attacks
By RAHIM FAIEZ and KAY JOHNSON,Associated Press Writers -
Wednesday, March 3
Send
IM Story
Print
KABUL – An Afghan intelligence official put the blame Tuesday on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for staging the deadly car bomb and suicide attacks that targeted foreigners last week in Kabul.
The assertion that the attacks in the Afghan capital were the handiwork of Lashkar-e-Taiba _ the same militants that India blames for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist assaults that killed 166 _ could jeopardize recently restarted peace talks between Pakistan and India.
The Afghan Taliban insurgents already claimed responsibility for the attacks, which killed 16 people, including six Indians, after a car bomb exploded and gunmen wearing suicide vests hidden under burqas stormed residential hotels popular with foreigners. At least 56 people were wounded.
Saeed Ansari, a spokesman for Afghanistan's intelligence service, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his agency has evidence that Pakistanis, specifically Lashkar-e-Taiba, were involved in the attacks. He also said one of the attackers was heard speaking Urdu, a Pakistani language.
Lashkar-e-Taiba is one of several militant Islamist groups that Pakistan's military intelligence helped create in the 1980s, seeking to use them against archrival India and fight Indian rule in Kashmir, which both countries claim.
Ansari said last week's Kabul attacks bore similarities to two suicide bombings at the Indian Embassy in Kabul in 2008 and 2009 and the car bomb attack in January at a residential hotel in one of the safest neighborhoods in the capital.
Police said initially that two suicide attackers were involved in Friday's attack. Ansari told three private television stations that there were four gunmen with Kalishnokov rifles and suicide vests _ and that they wore burqas, the all-encompassing veil for women, to hide their gear. He said one attacker stayed to detonate a van packed with explosives, while the other three spread out and entered two hotels, where they fired on guests and then set off their explosives.
On Friday, about 2 1/2 hours after the attacks began, an Afghan Taliban spokesman telephoned a reporter with The Associated Press to claim responsibility. He said foreigners were the target, but did not specifically mention Indians.
Ansari, however, said the Taliban did not have the logistical capability for the assault, saying the gunmen appeared to have detailed knowledge, including names, of Indian guests at the hotels. He also claimed the Taliban "had no knowledge" of the Kabul attacks up to five hours after they began.
"We are very close to the exact proof and evidence that the attack on the Indian guest house ... is not the work of the Afghan Taliban but this attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba network, who are dependent on the Pakistan military," Ansari said in an interview aired on Tolo TV, RTA and Shamshad broadcast stations in Kabul.
The victims killed in the assaults included six Indians, one Italian diplomat, a French filmmaker, three Afghan police and four Afghan civilians and one body too dismembered to identify.
The Kabul attack came a day after India and Pakistan held their first official talks since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, which prompted New Delhi to pull out of the peace process. India insisted during the talks Thursday that Pakistan needed to make more aggressive efforts to rein in anti-Indian insurgents there.
Pakistan is trying seven men on charges that they planned and carried out the Mumbai attacks, but critics say Lashkar-e-Taiba continues to operate relatively freely.
Friday's assault was the deadliest in Afghanistan's capital since Oct. 8, when a suicide car bomber killed 17 people outside the Indian Embassy. A suicide car bomber killed more than 60 people in an attack at the gates of the Indian Embassy in July 2008 _ an attack that India alleges Pakistan's main spy agency was involved in.
But New Delhi did not immediately blame Pakistan after Friday's assault.
India sent a three-member team by air force jet Saturday to work with Afghan authorities in the investigation, Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad said.
Prasad said Tuesday night that Afghan authorities had not yet told him Lashkar-e-Taiba was the prime suspect but added that he was not surprised. "They were looking in that direction," he said.
He would not speculate on whether the allegations might derail the Pakistan-India talks.
Neither the governments of India nor Pakistan commented on the allegations Tuesday night. Spokesmen for Lashkar-e-Taiba could not be reached.
India is among the largest economic donors to Afghanistan and has some 3,500 citizens living here. New Delhi has also expressed an interest in training Afghan security forces, angering Pakistan.
India's growing role in Afghanistan is strongly opposed by Pakistan, which wants a friendly Afghan government without ties to its rival. Pakistan and India have fought three wars _ two over Kashmir _ since their independence from Britain in 1947.
The Afghan Taliban, which has had longtime ties with Pakistani intelligence services, also opposes Indian influence in part because of New Delhi's links to some of its rivals.
NATO forces and Afghan soldiers have been conducting a major new offensive against the Taliban in the southern province of Helmand to establish a civilian Afghan government in the former insurgent stronghold of Marjah.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Official: Pakistani group behind Kabul attacks AP - Wednesday, March 3
Turkmenistan pledges to improve its prison system AP - Wednesday, March 3
China, US seek to put tensions behind them AP - Wednesday, March 3
Pakistani army wraps up combat operations in Bajur AP - Wednesday, March 3
Fossils of snake eating dino eggs found in India AP - Wednesday, March 3
News Search
Top Stories
Greece risks 'bankruptcy' without radical action: PM
Car makers brush off crisis in Geneva
EU authorises GMO potatoes
Japan passes record $1 trillion budget
GM to more than triple Opel investment
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
NASA radar finds ice on moon's north pole
World's most powerful atom smasher restarts: CERN
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
Be of good heart: Happiness helps ward off cardiac disease
Obama plans 'dramatic reductions' in US nuclear weapons
More Most Viewed »
Florida killer whale to stay in park after deadly attack
DNA reveals some mystery on King Tut, raises questions
First footage of clouded leopard captured in Borneo
Scientists recreate Big Bang heat of 4 tln degrees C
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 Rwandan president's widow arrested for genocide
Seven NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 48 hours
Google Italy verdict 'distressing': State Department
Car makers brush off crisis in Geneva
Apple sues HTC for iPhone patent infringement
Ukraine coalition collapses
EU authorises GMO potatoes
Russia says still room for diplomacy with Iran
Rwandan leader's widow bailed in genocide case
Robot footballers wow crowd in Germany
Japan passes record $1 trillion budget
Dow Jones buys Hearst half of SmartMoney
Turkish general charged in anti-govt conspiracy case
Serbian 'war criminal' detained in Spain
Japan's top web forum hacked after attacks on Korean skater
Iraqi voters showered with gifts as election nears
Turkish general charged in anti-government conspiracy case
|
Apple claims HTC infringed iPhone patents
U.S. voices concern over Afghan media rules
|
Yemen blast kills up to 19, levels apartment block
|
BBC signals new strategy after commercial criticism
|
Siemens execs held in latest French bossnapping
|
Official: Pakistani group behind Kabul attacks
Guilty plea expected in New York subway bomb plot
Clinton visits quake-hit Chile
Turkmenistan pledges to improve its prison system
China, US seek to put tensions behind them
Bill would have tech companies guard human rights
|
Activists: Uzbekistan orders forced sterilizations
Pakistani army wraps up combat operations in Bajur
Fossils of snake eating dino eggs found in India
Kabul says no decision to charge Taliban No. 2
Rescuers try to save 31 trapped in China coal mine
Afghan govt says it's not banning attacks coverage
Oscar: Hollywood's golden mystery man
Indonesia watchdog appeals against Carrefour ruling
Toyota repairing leaky oil hoses in US, Japan
China's BYD, Daimler team up on electric vehicle
Bowie, Ronson slam BBC for plans to axe 6 Music
Baroness Thyssen wants Spanish state to buy art collection
Mute Chicago film critic Ebert "voices" Oscar picks
Oscar: Hollywood's golden mystery man
"Billy Elliot" to debut in South Korea
Retailers see opportunity in Romania despite recession
Moscow mayor defends Stalin poster campaign
Cambodia PM warns of cosmetic surgery dangers
Economic crisis silences Romania rock festival
Bowie, Ronson slam BBC for plans to axe 6 Music
|
Mute Chicago film critic Ebert voices Oscar picks
|
Hurt Locker breaks Hollywood's Iraq war curse
|
Chile steps up search for victims in quake-hit areas
|
Investigators need Madeleine McCann files: spokesman
Afghan police and army prove a mixed class for US officers
Cisco makes companies more smartphone friendly
Eurozone, markets demand tough Greek austerity plan
Private equity firm makes bid for Novell
Chile quake moved Earth's axis, shortened days: scientist
US-TECH Summary
Australia government plans $45 billion overhaul of health
|
South Africa's Zuma starts British state visit
Greece risks 'bankruptcy' without radical action: PM
Spanish court jails Basque leader for 'glorifying terrorism'
Netanyahu intervenes in sensitive Jerusalem project
U.N. council ready to tackle Iran nuclear issue
|
AT&T CEO sees iPad mostly used on Wi-Fi
Dubai seeks Israeli PM's arrest over hotel murder
TiVo unveils set-top box for video from TV, Web
US cyber defense strategy details hit the Internet
Netanyahu intervenes in sensitive Jerusalem project
|
Sweeping changes needed to save US post office
Kansas city changes name -- temporarily -- to Google
Spain busts ring accused of infecting 13 mln PCs
Ukraine's Yanukovich moves to tighten grip on power
|
North Korean nuclear envoy set to visit U.S., says South
|
Activision forms new "Call of Duty" unit
Five killed in bombings in northeast Iraqi city
|
Nigeria's powerful state governors back acting leader
|
Dubai police chief says to seek Netanyahu arrest
|
US vets return to Iwo Jima for 65th anniversary
Taliban, not drugs, focus of US-Afghan offensive
Weight Watchers OKs McDonald's fast food menu
China, US work to repair frayed ties
Obama to push healthcare overhaul into final act
Indian police arrest top Maoist leader
Clinton visits quake-hit Chile
Officer suspected of stealing ivory in Philippines
China artist sues government over right to know
NZ jails German tourist for smuggling reptiles
Father, daughter shot dead in Thai south
East Timor to deliver verdict on assassination bids
Activision forms new Call of Duty unit
|
Apple sues HTC over phones with Google software
|
TiVo unveils set-top box for video from TV, Web
|
Spain busts ring accused of infecting 13 mln PCs
|
AT&T CEO sees iPad mostly used on Wi-Fi
|
S.Korea Jan output data points to waning recovery
Seoul shares edge up on automakers, Woori Fin
India telecom tycoon Africa moves spook investors
NZ dollar pinned near nine-year lows vs Aussie
Taiwan's HTC denies infringing iPhone patents
Too old for Hollywood? Try film directing
"Hurt Locker" breaks Hollywood's Iraq war curse
PAKISTAN
S.Korea March crude runs to fall 7 pct-survey
Seoul shares up on carmakers; output data weighs
Seoul shares flat; Hyundai up after strong sales
Ford overtakes GM in US sales, Toyota falters amid recalls
Leno recaptures old audience, critics underwhelmed
|
Meet the lawyer who guards the door at the Oscars
|
Sudan's land of 'black pharaohs' a trove for archaeologists
Oliver Stone shocked on revisit to Wall St
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Jane's Addiction member quits after Australia tour
Book on atom bomb horrors halted over false stories
|
"Hurt Locker" producers sued days before Oscars
Jane's Addiction member quits after Australia tour
|
Bollywood actresses drive Indian slimming fashion
Women directors face 'celluloid ceiling'
NY police seek Naomi Campbell for assault questions
|
Hurt Locker producers sued days before Oscars
|
Hurt Locker producer punished for Oscar violation
|
"Hurt Locker" producer punished for Oscar violation
Oliver Stone "shocked" on revisit to Wall St
Barbara Walters bids farewell to Oscar special
|
Barbara Walters bids farewell to Oscar special
NY police seek Naomi Campbell for assault questions
Arab League gives Mideast talks 4-month window
Greek ministers meet to avert bankruptcy
Suicide blasts kill 33 ahead of Iraq polls
Suicide bombers kill 33 in Iraqi city before poll
Arab League gives Mideast talks 4-month window
|
Search goes on for Uganda landslide survivors
|
Skype gets into Nokia smartphones
Suicide attacks kill 29 ahead of Iraq polls
U.N. council ready to tackle Iran nuclear issue
|
Iran upholds student protester death penalty:report
Suicide bombers kill 33 in Iraqi city before poll
|
Ukraine's government falls in no-confidence vote
|
Mobile transfers save money and lives in Somalia
|
International probe cracks Iran arms smuggling ring
|
Religious schools under scrutiny in Yemen
|
15 dead, 6 blinded from tainted liquor in India
Spain busts global botnet masterminds
|
Opera says demand up as Microsoft opens EU market
|
China jails 3 executives for tainted milk products
Drought affects 6 million in southern China
Australian house booby-trapped with 50 fake bombs
Mobile transfers save money and lives in Somalia
|
Skype gets into Nokia smartphones
|
5 dead, 6 blinded from tainted liquor in India
Malaysian convicted of Sydney murder is free man
East Timor convicts 24 rebels over murder plots
Philippine police arrest 3 Abu Sayyaf suspects
Drought drops Mekong River to nearly 2-decade low
Skype gets into Nokia smartphones
SKorea grounds all F-5 fighter jets after crash
Pakistani rupee firms; o/n rates, stocks down
Nissan recalls nearly 540,000 vehicles worldwide
GM says China sales up 51 pct in February
Panasonic chief says TV business to turn profit
GM's China sales up 51 percent in February
Seinfeld's "Marriage Ref" worth a few giggles
PREVIEW-Taiwan CPI seen up 2 pct y/y in February
Standard Chartered unveils record profits
Bank bailout shows cracks in Indonesian government
MARKETS-KOREA-STOCKS (UPDATE 2) =2
13 suspected militants arrested in Indonesian Aceh
Seinfeld's Marriage Ref worth a few giggles
|
Ten movies vie for top honors at new-look Oscars
HK sex photos actress reunites with Twins bandmate
Seinfeld's "Marriage Ref" worth a few giggles
Palestinian village known for protests sees cultural rebirth
Former Swiss wine grower uncovers Sudan's ancient roots
Book on atom bomb horrors halted over false stories
Meet the lawyer who guards the door at the Oscars
U.S. unveils cybersecurity safeguard plan
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights