The Taliban militant group has denied their involvement in Saturday’s deadly suicide car bomb attack that targeted a NATO contractors convoy in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The blast, which took place on a busy road near a private hospital, a kilometer from the U.S. embassy, rocked a crowded residential area with many security checkposts. A suspected suicide car bomber reportedly rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the convoy . An international coalition forces spokesman, Col. Brian Tribus, confirmed the attack on a NATO convoy, saying three contractors were killed in the attack. In an unusual move, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the group was behind the attack. Meanwhile for the first time, the US State Department spokesman declined to directly hold Taliban responsible for recent attacks in Kabul. It has now become a fashion to attribute everything wrong going on in Afghanistan and also in some parts of Pakistan to Taliban. It was in line with this general trend that the Kabul Government accused Taliban for recent terrorist attacks in the capital and also pointed fingers towards Pakistan for supporting them. The allegations created tension between the two brotherly countries and that too at a time when substantial moves were being made to remove mistrust and forge unity to fight the common enemy. Those who sponsored and carried out these attacks, in a way, succeeded in their designs to create a wedge between Islamabad and Kabul. It is understood that the US spokesperson has not made off-the-cough remarks about who could be involved in these terrorist bombings in Kabul. The United States has an elaborate intelligence network in Afghanistan and they are in the know of what is happening there. However, the spokesperson, obviously for the sake of diplomatic niceties, did not mention any names and only confined to the use of word ‘others’ but it is a sufficient pointer to the reality that hidden hands are behind these acts. In fact, there were not only moves towards closer cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also bright prospects for reconciliation in the neighbouring country after successful outcome of the Murree parleys between Afghan Government and Taliban. Another round was scheduled but attacks and some other developments created hurdles in the way of further progress.
pk.shafaqna.com
