Karzai Blames 'Foreign Agencies' For Kabul Attacks

Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused "foreign agencies" of being behind a recent series of attacks in Kabul and of blocking his government from striking a peace deal with the Taliban.

Karzai's office said on March 30 that the president made the charges in a phone call the previous day with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Karzai told Kerry the attacks were complex in nature and stage-managed by "foreign intelligence agencies," a phrase he often uses to refer to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Karzai's remarks come after three attacks in five days in Kabul, including a March 29 attack on the country's electoral commission just ahead of general elections due next week.

The Taliban has promised a campaign of violence to disrupt the April 5 elections to choose the country's next president.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters