Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Restaurants get off to a quick start thanks to game-changing policies
High service charges on event ticket refunds call for further regulation
Sunday
- Subscribe
Iran points finger over deadly blast
Source: Agencies |
October 20, 2009, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard accused the United States, Britain and Pakistan yesterday of having links with Sunni militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed five senior guard commanders and 37 others.
Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said those behind Sunday's bombing were hiding across the border in Pakistan, and in a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart yesterday he demanded their arrest.
The accusations put some strain on the normally close relationship between Iran and Pakistan, which have had differences over the issue of Islamic extremism in the past.
Yesterday's statements marked the first time Iran has publicly accused its neighbor's intelligence service of supporting the Sunni rebel group known as Jundallah, or Soldiers of God.
The claims of US and British interference came as those two nations were taking part in talks with Iranian officials over the country's nuclear program in Vienna. The accusations, however, were not expected to complicate the talks.
Jundallah, which emerged in 2002 in Iran's remote and mountainous southeast, has waged a low-level insurgency there to protest what it says is government persecution of the Baluchi ethnic minority. Baluchis follow the Sunni branch of Islam and are a minority.
A claim of responsibility in the name of the group was posted yesterday on an Islamic Website that usually publishes al-Qaida statements. The posting, whose authenticity could not be verified, made no mention of any assistance from foreign powers.
In Sunday's attack, a suicide bomber struck as guard commanders were entering a sports complex to meet tribal leaders.
Revolutionary Guard Chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari vowed yesterday to deliver a "crushing" response.
"New evidence has been obtained proving the link between yesterday's terrorist attack and the US, British and Pakistani intelligence services," state TV quoted Jafari as saying.
Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said those behind Sunday's bombing were hiding across the border in Pakistan, and in a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart yesterday he demanded their arrest.
The accusations put some strain on the normally close relationship between Iran and Pakistan, which have had differences over the issue of Islamic extremism in the past.
Yesterday's statements marked the first time Iran has publicly accused its neighbor's intelligence service of supporting the Sunni rebel group known as Jundallah, or Soldiers of God.
The claims of US and British interference came as those two nations were taking part in talks with Iranian officials over the country's nuclear program in Vienna. The accusations, however, were not expected to complicate the talks.
Jundallah, which emerged in 2002 in Iran's remote and mountainous southeast, has waged a low-level insurgency there to protest what it says is government persecution of the Baluchi ethnic minority. Baluchis follow the Sunni branch of Islam and are a minority.
A claim of responsibility in the name of the group was posted yesterday on an Islamic Website that usually publishes al-Qaida statements. The posting, whose authenticity could not be verified, made no mention of any assistance from foreign powers.
In Sunday's attack, a suicide bomber struck as guard commanders were entering a sports complex to meet tribal leaders.
Revolutionary Guard Chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari vowed yesterday to deliver a "crushing" response.
"New evidence has been obtained proving the link between yesterday's terrorist attack and the US, British and Pakistani intelligence services," state TV quoted Jafari as saying.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
