Hours after Afghan forces repulsed major suicide attacks by Taliban on Kabul, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai blamed "intelligence failures" for the assault, particularly on the part of US-led NATO alliance.
"The terrorist infiltration in Kabul and other provinces is an intelligence failure for us and, especially, the NATO and should be seriously investigated", Karzai said in a statement.
His remarks came as Afghan forces regained control over parts of the city overrun by the Taliban in a brazen 18-hour attack, which left 51 people dead including 36 insurgents.
The president praised the "bravery" of his security forces, who he said had quickly and timely reacted to contain the terrorists.
"Afghan security forces proved to the people that they can defend their country successfully", he said.
Karzai said that attacks in Kabul and neighbouring Jalalabad, Logar and Paktia provinces had killed 11 members of the security forces and 4 civilians and left 72 people wounded.
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