News / Asia

Karzai: Spy Chief Bomber Came from Pakistan

Afghan policemen stand guard near the scene where Afghanistan's Intelligence Chief Asadullah Khalid was wounded in an assassination attempt in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 6, 2012.
Afghan policemen stand guard near the scene where Afghanistan's Intelligence Chief Asadullah Khalid was wounded in an assassination attempt in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 6, 2012.
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VOA News
The president of Afghanistan says the suicide bombing that wounded his intelligence chief was planned in neighboring Pakistan.

Hamid Karzai said Saturday Afghan officials are certain the suicide bomber who wounded National Directorate of Security head Asadullah Khalid came from Pakistan.

Karzai said he would raise the issue with Islamabad, but stopped short of blaming the Pakistani government.  The president did not provide any evidence to support his comments.

The suicide bomber posed as a peace messenger Thursday when he attacked Khalid at a guest house in Kabul.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Khalid is being treated at a hospital at Bagram Air Base, outside Kabul.  

An NDS official said Thursday that the intelligence chief had severe injuries on the right side of his body, particularly in the abdomen, leg and hand, but that his chances of survival are good.

Khalid, who is close to the family of President Karzai, took over the intelligence agency in September after the president reshuffled his Cabinet.  Since taking over, Khalid has led an aggressive campaign against the Taliban.

Prior to becoming intelligence chief, Khalid served as Afghanistan's minister of tribal and border affairs and as a provincial governor.  Human rights groups have accused him of involvement in acts of torture and other abuses while he was governor of Kandahar province.  Khalid has denied any wrongdoing.

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