"According to the information that we have -- given to us by a Western intelligence agency -- the perpetrators were of LeT," Karzai told India's Headlines Today television channel. PHOTO: AFP
On the eve of talks between India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, Karzai blamed the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for Friday's attack on the consulate in Herat, the latest in a string of assaults on Indian targets in Afghanistan.
"According to the information that we have -- given to us by a Western intelligence agency -- the perpetrators were of LeT," Karzai told India's Headlines Today television channel.
"The incident is condemned by the Afghan people as it is condemned by the people of India. This was a clear, clear attack by terrorists," added Karzai who was in New Delhi to attend Modi's inauguration ceremony.
Although there were no casualties among Indian staff, at least two policemen were wounded when the heavily-armed attackers stormed a house close to the consulate and opened fire on the building in a pre-dawn assault that was eventually repelled by security forces.
LeT was blamed by India for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people and triggered a complete breakdown in ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Some analysts have interpreted Friday's attack as an attempt by anti-India elements in Pakistan to test the resolve of Modi, a hardliner Hindu nationalist.
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@From afganistan: lol... A Pakistani in disguise thinks India is surrounded by enemies! Actually It is Pakistan isolated by world community. India has good relations with neighbour countries except Pakistan.
China's official news media "China Daily" says that there is unprecedented optimism in China about Narendra Modi. This is what China Daily says: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2014-05/27/content_17542344.htm
Afghanistan has been a nucleus of terrorism for decades and all these cliques have their originating roots from Afghanistan, threatening peace and order all over the region, yet no one seems to cry out their miseries in front of others like infants. try dealing with your incompetencies rather than indicting others.
Afganistan is a pupet state, being used by indians. And do indians know that india has bad relations with all of its neighbours including pakistan, china, bangladesh, buttan and srilanka.?
Indeed.Extremely ill-timed announcement,Mr.President!!!
@chandran because Afghanis are settled in india since centuries. They come here for medical treatments,education,jobs etc. culture influence plus they get warm welcome in india and find friends among indians and culture similar. It's not just now it's been since centuries and revisited in young minds from the time of kabuli walla.
Karzai Loic... Indian conulate attacked on the soverign state of Afghania....blame Pakistan Taliban roaming around freely....Blame Pakistan Economic problems.....blame USA
If Pakistanis such a problem, why dont you agree to barbed wire borders? Maulvi Fazlullah is not just hiding in Afghanistan but is even operating from there. There are numerous incidents of cross border infiltration from Afghan side.
we Indian still dont why afghan loves indian and its bollywood allah jane
@S india Bangladesh have very cordial relationship. Have they increased their arm race vis via us? Nuclear weapons? Anything? Nope. Look at our bilateral trade relations, we are discussing FTA with them. Have excellent relations with its govt. about china, both india and china are mature countries both do posturing but those are best business partners and join hands as friends together against west and developed world policies on international stage. BRICS cooperation. There is more cooperation and strong relationship not animosity. Modi is very much liked in china because if his previous four time visit as cheif minister for business and trade with their leaders. he will take indo china trade and relation to new heights. What you think doesn't matter to us. Except pakistan we have no issues.
Well done, Mr Karzai, u have the habit of making the best out of a situation, when in India talk in their language, when elsewhere, do accordingly, typical of an opportunist. By the way, where do u intend to settle, post presidentship.
Don't this man has anything better to do except blaming Pakistan every now and then?
@Virkaul: and India does not have hostile realtions with its neighbours? Pak, China? Even border issues with bangladesh?
This man is a bad image of Afghanistan.
@AKarachite: being abusive does not alter the reality. Akash is correct. Pakistan is the one who is trying to rewrite history.
@AKarachite: I wouldn't know that place where the sun doesn't shine. I have never been there. I am quite sure you do. Stay there and be at peace.
@MK: IMHO Indian embassy was attacked bt Let on the instructions and support of ISI because ISI wants to scuttle any reconciliation between Pakistan and India. This is the repeat of Kargil incident after Atal Behari Vajpai's visit in 1999.
Our dearest and long time strategic assets are active again. We don't nurture and protect them in safe havens for nothing. These groups are organic and can only exist in Pakistan. We can dump on Karzai as much as we want. What would we do when both Modi and Afghan leaders would have unity of thoughts?
@Maria:
After all it’s the habit of Afghanis and Karzai especially to blame all of their problems on neighboring Pakistan
I guess they learned well from the Pakistanis.
If Afghanistan is an Indian puppet state, then Pakistan is a puppet state of UK, America, Saudi Arabia and China.
@Maria: If you look around Pakistan has hostile relations with 3 of it's 4 neighbors. China has been cautious with Islamists let loose from Pakistan. Most terror incidents across the globe find their roots in Pakistan. This is not a loose accusation but confirmed fact. Pakistan has not been able to understand what it means to be sovereign in 65 years of it's existence. It started with becoming a puppet of US to get aid from inception, became member of SEATO, CENTO, etc and fought America's war against the Soviets in Afghanistan in exchange for money. It has been outsourcing it's services to anyone anywhere in the world for money. It also does not behave according to it's size and maintains a huge army disproportional to it's size. It interferes in India (Kashmir, Punjab, Assam), Afghanistan and occasionally in Iran. It thinks of Afghanistan as it's 5th province and considers it it's right that it has the moral authority to have a say in forming a govt of it's choice there. These is bad foreign policy and has isolated Pakistan internationally.
@Akash: Get your head out of where sun doesn't shine and smell the coffee. Kashmir is a disputed territory. .
@Mohammed: To answer your question, Shabaz Sharif's Punjab Government gave Rs. 600 million to JuD, just a two years ago out of Punjab Government funds.
@Maria: BTW, isn't ALSO the habit of Pakistanis to blame all their countries problems on the rest of the world (that ever convenient Foreign Hand!) even though they are responsible for their own misery???
At the very least India has a PM who is unafraid of dealing with terrorists and terrorism - whatever the consequences. That is exactly what the citizens want too. India should go after those people wherever they are. We are ready to pay any price. Their narrative about Kashmir is also false. Kashmir has been a part of India when many religions didn't even exist. The invaders brought Islam with them and converted the locals in many regions. That doesn't mean that Kashmir suddenly does not belong to India. The invaders can go back if they want.
Indians frequently claim among all our militias LeT has official patronage. Is this true? the ppl of Pakistan need to know.
Comments like these from Karzai don't surprise anyone. After all it's the habit of Afghanis and Karzai especially to blame all of their problems on neighboring Pakistan even though they are responsible for their own misery. Karzai is using this ceremony to show how Afghanistan will remain a loyal Indian puppet state like it has for the past 60 years.
So how does Pakistan plan on rebuilding its relations with India when LeT now dictates its foriegn policy?
It seems that even being in power for a decade he has failed to learn the art of politics and decency. Karzai must not have given such irresponsible comments and try to sabotage India/Pak relations. very disappointing.
Modi's first real test. It's a shame that at a time when India has such a heavyweight PM, Pakistan has the timid Mian sb. If Modi throws a haymaker in the meeting tomorrow then I fear for our man, he doesn't have the chin.
Lol, what a joke. Western intelligence agencies will say and do anything to keep Pakistan destabilized and prevent Pakistan and India from improving their relationship and promoting peace and harmony. Well done CIA!