Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of Kabul airport attack

Shortly after Pakistan strongly condemned series of recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, senior Afghan officials claimed Pakistan’s security agencies were behind the Thursday’s attack on the Kabul international airport.

Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and the group’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said four Taliban took part in what he called “martyrdom attacks” as part of their spring offensive codenamed “Khyber.”

Mujahid also released to the media names of four attackers who belonged to different parts of Afghanistan. He claimed the attackers inflicted “heavy losses on the enemy.”

The Afghan authorities however denied any casualties and losses to the aircraft and other infrastructure. The Afghan security forces killed all four Taliban militants during a five-hour gun battle.

The Afghan Interior Ministry however blamed Pakistan’s main intelligence agency ISI besides the militant groups. The Interior Ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqi told a news conference in Kabul that attacks on Kabul airport have been increased after the June 8 assault on the Karachi international airport.

“Our interpretation is that after Karachi attack, certain circles, especially Haqani, Taliban and ISI, trie to attack our airport. After attack on Karachi airport international flights postponed there, they fixed evil goal that same attack should be taken place on Kabul airport to stop international flights that we are witness of them,” Siddiqi said, according to an Afghan journalist who attended the presser.

The Afghan official said the Thursday’s attack was third on Kabul airport after the Karachi airport. He also claimed that the attackers were speaking Urdu language, adding “it was a revenge of the Karachi attack.”

Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan had claimed responsibility for the deadly attack that had killed over 30 security, aviation and PIA personnel.

Deputy Interior Minister Gen. Ayub Salangi said: “Intelligence networks of neighbouring countries are behind the attack.”  Two rocket launchers, a machine gun, two Kalashnikov rifles and ammunitions were found at the scene, according to private Pajhwok news agency.

Afghan Taliban have increased attacks since they have launched their traditional annual “Spring Offensive.”

Also on Thursday the Taliban attacked a security team of President Hamid Karzai who was on its way to eastern Paktika province where a powerful car bomb killed nearly 80 persons this week. Two members of the Presidential security team were injured. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

In Islamabad the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Pakistan strongly condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, including the one in Paktika Province, in which a large number of innocent civilians have lost their lives including children.

“No cause justifies such wanton acts of violence, especially in this holy month of Ramadan. We reiterate our condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations,” Tasnim Aslam said at her weekly press briefing.

Kabul has once again directly charged Pakistan just two weeks after senior security officials of the two countries met in Rawalpindi and agreed “to build further trust, continue to talk under all circumstances and evolve a robust and effective bilateral border coordination mechanism.”

The Pakistan Army had raised the issue of “terrorist sanctuaries” in eastern Kunar and Nuristan provinces in Afghanistan and attacks on Pakistani border villages and posts from those sanctuaries with top Afghan defence and intelligence officials on July 3.