KABUL, Oct 16: Afghanistan’s intelligence agency has alleged that the man behind a foiled suicide bombing in Kabul on Monday had been trained in an area of Pakistan.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS) had been tipped off about the attack and cornered the car carrying the bomb before it exploded, wounding three people.

NDS spokesman Sayed Ansari told reporters that the agency had intelligence that the would-be attacker was among four who had entered Afghanistan from the North Waziristan tribal area in Pakistan.

They had been in an area under the control of a Taliban leader named Sadiq Noor, Ansari said.

“The information provided to NDS by its sources was that four suicide attackers were trained in North Waziristan in Darpakhail and Noorali areas by Sadiq Noor’s group,” he said.

The Pakistan government last month agreed to a ceasefire with tribal leaders in North Waziristan that resulted in the military downscaling its presence.

Afghan analysts warned the deal could see an increase in infiltration of militants alleged to be carrying out insurgent attacks in Afghanistan.

“The terms of the ceasefire was non-interference in Afghanistan and no attack on the Pakistani army,” Ansari said. “Unfortunately one side of the agreement is implemented but the other side - against Afghan people - hasn’t (been),” he said.

Ansari alleged the four men said to have been trained in North Waziristan had crossed into Afghanistan.

One had been arrested two days ago in the eastern province of Khost, which borders North Waziristan.

“It is possible one of the two (remaining) may be in Khost and one in Kabul. We ask our compatriots if they come across any suspicious person or car, they contact the nearest security organ,” he said.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...