Karzai Blames ‘Cowardly’ Pakistan Agents for Kunar Bombing

10 Tribal Leaders Killed in Attack on Meeting

Afghan President Hamid Karzai today slammed “cowardly foreign agents hired by our historical enemy,” a clear reference to Pakistan, in comments about Wednesday’s Kunar Province bombing.

The bombing saw 10 tribal leaders allied to the Karzai government killed and a number of others wounded. The talks were part of an ongoing discussion with former mujahideen members, and the latest in a growing number of attacks in the province, which borders Pakistan.

Afghan and US officials have regularly blamed the Pakistani government for attacks in the nation. Pakistan has always denied the allegations, though officials have admitted to deliberately sabotaging a round of peace talks to spite the Karzai government for leaving Pakistan out of the talks.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani today insisted that his nation’s support was vital in ending the Afghan War, a comment which came after US drone strikes and the Karzai allegations. US officials have said as much in the past, but policy differences are creating a growing rift in the relationship with Pakistan.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.