Fingers point to ISI

KABUL: The Afghan Ambassador to the United States, Said T Jawad, blamed the Pakistan’s ISI for the attack near the Indian Embassy in Kabul, “We are pointing the finger at the Pakistan intelligence agency, based on the evidence on the ground and similar attack taking place in Afghanistan,” said Jawad. However, India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who visited the blast site,

refused to give details. Meanwhile, investigations are on into the bombings,which killed 17 people and wounded over 60. — Agencies

Infiltration foiled

JAMMU: The Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir has foiled an infiltration bid in Gurez Sector. Two infiltrators have been killed by the army. This comes two days after Defence Minister A K Anthony accused Pakistan of “not willing” to act against terrorists infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir even after the Mumbai attacks in 2008. “The crux is, even after 26/11, Pakistan is not willing to take strong stance against these infiltrators,” said Anthony, on Wednesday. — Agencies

US hails India

Washington: The White House has reiterated the importance of India-US alliance and that the Obama Administration would work with New Delhi to bring peace in the region,White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs, told reporters.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been given the honour by US President Barack Obama to be his first presidential state guest in late November, thus indicating the importance attached to India by the current administration. “We will have after we get back from our trip to Asia, an important event here at the White House, the President’s first state dinner,” Gibbs said in reference to the state visit of Singh on November 24. — Agencies

Indian MPs in Lanka

CHENNAI: Don’t make it a guided tour: that’s the DMK MP Kanimozhi ‘s message to Sri Lanka. She’s part of a delegation of Indian MPs visiting the relief camps that has been accommodating the internally displaced Lanka Tamils. This is the first time the Lankan government allowed an Indian team there. Before leaving, the MPs met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Tips from the grand old man of Tamil Nadu politics on the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils. The ten member delegation of MPs will visit relief camps,which house over 3 lakh displaced Tamils. — Agencies