Afghanistan accuses 'foreign intelligence' over Kabul attack

Afghanistan's National Security Council, which is chaired by President Hamid Karzai, on Sunday accused "foreign intelligence services" of being behind the deadly attack on a Kabul restaurant, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. Pakistan was the main supporter of the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and Afghan officials have long voiced suspicions about connections between the hardline movement and Islamabad's powerful intelligence services. "The NSC said such sophisticated and complex attacks are not the work of the ordinary Taliban, and said without doubt foreign intelligence services beyond the border are behind such bloody attacks," a statement from the palace said. "Beyond the border" is a phrase commonly used by the Afghan government to refer to neighbouring Pakistan. Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for Friday evening's suicide assault on a popular Lebanese restaurant in central Kabul in which 21 people, including 13 foreigners, were killed. Among the dead were three Americans, two British citizens, two Canadians, the International Monetary Fund head of mission, and the Lebanese owner of the Taverna du Liban, which was a popular hang-out for expats. In the deadliest attack on foreign civilians since the Taliban were ousted, one attacker detonated his suicide vest at the fortified entrance to the restaurant before two other militants stormed inside and gunned down diners and staff. The accusation of Pakistani involvement is likely to damage regional peace efforts as Pakistan, which is also battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency, is seen as crucial to encouraging the Afghan Taliban to open talks. Many Taliban leaders seek shelter in Pakistan, and Islamabad's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency is often accused of maintaining ties to the militants to ensure future influence in Afghanistan after US-led NATO troops withdraw. Pakistan has always denied maintaining any links with the Taliban, and Islamabad officials were not immediately available to comment on Sunday. President Karzai earlier condemned the restaurant attack and called on NATO forces "to target terrorism" in the country. Afghan officials on Sunday vowed to investigate how the suicide attackers penetrated one of the most secure districts of Kabul. Three police chiefs responsible for the Wazir Akbar Khan district have been suspended over the security breach. "The police officers will be questioned to see how this attack happened," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told AFP at a rally of about 100 protesters outside the targeted restaurant. The demonstrators, holding signs reading "We denounce terrorism", had gathered to protest the Taliban insurgency against the US-backed Kabul government. "We are going to be very serious to make sure that these shortfalls will not happen in the future," Sediqqi said. A series of checkpoints known as the "ring of steel" was established in 2009 after repeated attacks in central Kabul, but the militants evaded armed police tasked with searching people and vehicles. United Nations leader Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to the four UN staff killed in the attack, and pledged the UN would maintain its work in Afghanistan. "This is totally unacceptable and this is a violation of international humanitarian law. All the perpetrators must be held accountable," the secretary general said. "As the United Nations mourns this terrorist attack and its victims, we remain committed to work for the peace, stability and development of Afghanistan." The blast has led to embassies, aid organisations and international institutions re-assessing whether their staff can operate safely in Kabul. "This was an attack on foreign civilians targeted merely for being foreign -- a rare occasion in this Afghan war," said the Afghanistan Analysts Network in a report released on Sunday. NATO combat forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan this year after more than a decade of fighting the Taliban, but negotiations have stalled over a deal to allow some US and NATO troops to stay after 2014.