Pakistan Condemns Assassination Attempt on Masood

Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the assassination attempt on Commander Ahmed Shah Masood, leader of the Northern Alliance of Afghanistan, in which he reportedly received serious injuries.

a Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman said that Pakistan is opposed to violence in Afghanistan, which may be aggravated by such acts of terrorism.

Pakistan desires to see peace and national reconciliation in Afghanistan where people have long suffered the ravages of foreign military intervention followed by more than a decade of civil strife, the spokesman said.

The suicide bombing occurred on Sunday when two men, believed to be from northern Africa but traveling on Belgian passports, posed as television journalists to get close to Masood.

The bomb was hidden in the television camera. It exploded shortly after the interview held at Masood's base in northern Takhar province began, according to his spokesman, Abdullah.

The two bombers were killed, as well as a spokesman of Masood's. Three other people, including Masood, were hurt. "Masood received the most serious injuries," said Abdullah.

Abdullah blamed the Taliban militia for the incident, but the Taliban denied the charges, saying "we do not say that he was not our enemy, but we had no hand in the bombing. We condemn all terrorist activities."






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