Karzai says Pakistan key to peace talks with insurgency
(CNN) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai dismissed calls for negotiations with the Taliban, saying neighboring Pakistan is the key to peace talks with the insurgency, according to a statement released Saturday by the presidential press service.
The comments came the same day Afghanistan's intelligence service said it provided evidence that the assassination of former Afghan President Berhanuddin Rabbani was planned in the Taliban-stronghold of Quetta, Pakistan.
Rabbani, who was spearheading the reconciliation process with the Taliban, was killed in an attack at his home on September 20.
"We have given the evidence to the Pakistan Embassy in Afghanistan to cooperate with us," Lutfullah Mashal, Afghanistan's intelligence service spokesman, told reporters.
Karzai believes any negotiations must be conducted with Pakistan "since the enemies sanctuaries and operating places" are there, the statement said.
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