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Afghan President Denies Blaming US for 'Insurgent-Style' Attacks


Afghan civilians watch over site of Friday's suicide attack, shooting in Kabul, Jan. 18, 2014.
Afghan civilians watch over site of Friday's suicide attack, shooting in Kabul, Jan. 18, 2014.
The Afghan government is denying reports that it suspects the United States of aiding "insurgent-style" attacks in an effort to undermine the government.

A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai, Aimal Faizi, said Tuesday there is no evidence to prove the United States is behind the recent suicide attack on a Lebanese restaurant in the capital, Kabul.

Afghan security forces arrive on scene of restaurant attack, Kabul, Jan. 17, 2014.
Afghan security forces arrive on scene of restaurant attack, Kabul, Jan. 17, 2014.
"We have no evidence. The accusation is reported by a foreign newspaper. If there are questions on who provided the information, you can go and talk to them [newspaper]."

In an article published Tuesday by The Washington Post, unnamed senior Afghan officials said Afghan President Karzai has a list of "dozens of attacks" he believes the U.S government may have been involved in an attempt to weaken him and foment instability in the country.

U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham is quoted in the article as describing the allegations as "deeply conspiratorial" and "divorced from reality".

The Washington Post says the unnamed officials provided no evidence of any U.S. role in the attacks, which include an assault of a Justice Ministry building and another on a courthouse in western Farah province.

The officials say some of the attacks may have been carried out to distract attention from an airstrikes in other areas.

The article says the Taliban has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks on the list and have disputed the claims of possible U.S. involvement. The newspaper says the Afghan government has often dismissed their claims, instead blaming "foreign intelligence services."
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