Pak Rules out Taliban Involvement in Rocket Attacks

Pakistan has ruled out the possibility that the Afghan Taliban militia were behind a series of rocket attacks in Islamabad on November 12.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office Friday asserted that "there can be no doubt that these terrorist acts have been perpetrated by elements hostile to the interests of Pakistan and Afghanistan in addition to creating a sense of instability and insecurity."

"We have noted the statement by the Taliban leadership strongly condemning these explosions," the statement said, adding that "these acts of terrorism will not be allowed to create misunderstanding with friendly countries and misgivings in our external relations."

Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar earlier Friday condemned the rocket attacks, describing them as "a conspiracy" to harm Taliban's relations with Pakistan and to increase tension between Afghanistan and the United Nations and the United States.

Six rockets attacks, which occurred two days before a U.S.-proposed U.N. Security Council resolution envisaging sanctions against Afghanistan takes effect, were apparently targeted at U.N. and U.S. installations in Islamabad, police said.

Pakistan "strongly condemned" the rocket firing in Islamabad as "acts of premeditated and wanton terrorism," said the Foreign Office statement.

Investigations will expose those "evil forces who cannot succeed in their nefarious designs," it said.

Pakistan is committed to combating terrorism and will spare no efforts to expose and punish those responsible for this reprehensible crime, it stressed.


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