Rabbani killer was Pakistani: Karzai's office
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The killer of Afghan peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani was Pakistani, a statement from Afghanistan's presidential palace said on Sunday, quoting investigators.
Evidence shows that Professor Rabbani's death last month "was plotted in Quetta and the person who carried out the suicide attack against Rabbani was a citizen of Pakistan," the statement said.
It added that the killer had been living in Chaman, a Pakistani border town near Quetta.
The statement also quoted investigators as saying: "Documents and evidence together with the biography, address and phone numbers of suspects involved in the incident have been submitted to the government of Pakistan in order to arrest and hand them (other suspects) over."
Many Afghans are suspicious of Pakistan's connections to the Taliban-led insurgency in their country but the statement was the strongest yet to suggest a Pakistani link to Professor Rabbani's killing.
The claims came hours after a spokesman for Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Siamak Herawi, said the president was reviewing his strategy for peace with the Taliban in the wake of Rabbani's killing.
Professor Rabbani, chairman of Mr Karzai's High Peace Council, was killed by a turban suicide bomber at his home in Kabul on September 20.
He had thought that he was meeting a representative carrying a special message from the Taliban.
Mr Karzai's government has been struggling to start talks with the Taliban in a bid to end the 10-year insurgency in Afghanistan but has made no meaningful progress.
Mr Karzai's spokesman said on Sunday that the president was reviewing his peace strategy, adding that he would reveal next steps "very soon".
"All peace talks with the Taliban are suspended. The president will review the peace and reconciliation strategy," Mr Herawi said.
The Taliban have long rejected Mr Karzai's calls for peace talks, saying they will not hold any discussions until all foreign troops leave the country.
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.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-02/rabbani-killer-was-pakistani3a-karzai/3206138?section=world
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