Afghan President accuses Pakistan of being 'Taliban centre'

KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday accused neighbouring Pakistan of failing to move against the Taliban and pledged a new security plan for Kabul after hundreds of people were killed and wounded in two deadly attacks on the capital last month.

Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of allegedly aiding terrorists by giving shelter and aid to leaders of the Taliban insurgency, a charge denied by Pakistan, which points to the thousands of its own citizens killed by militant violence over the years.

“We are waiting for Pakistan to act,” Ghani said in a televised address after Friday prayers, in which he accused Pakistan of being the “Taliban centre”.

A recent attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul and a suicide bombing on a crowded city street a week later have stoked public anger in Afghanistan and stepped up pressure on Ghani’s Western-backed government to improve security.

The attacks, which killed more than 130 people and wounded hundreds more, were claimed by the Taliban, which is fighting to drive out international troops and re-establish its form of strict law in Afghanistan.

Afghan and U.S. officials say the Haqqani network, a militant group affiliated with the Taliban and allegedly believed to be based in Pakistan, was responsible.

“The attack is not against our men, women or children but against the Afghan nation and it requires a national, comprehensive response,” Ghani said, adding that security officials would present a new plan on Sunday.