Proof Lashkar hit Kabul: Afghan spy agency

Saeed Ansari,a spokesman for Afghanistans National Directorate of Security,told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his agency had evidence that Pakistanis were involved in the attacks. He said one of the attackers was heard speaking Urdu.

(The Sunday Express had reported that the Indian government had the Lashkar-e-Toiba on its radar of prime suspects given that the October 2009 attempt on its Kabul embassy was traced to this outfit.

US counter-terrorism officials had also conveyed to Indian

authorities a few weeks ago that they had credible information about the Lashkar spreading its network rapidly in Afghanistan with the intention to target

Indian assets. Their assessment was that this network was willing to work closely with al-Qaeda elements.)

Ansari also said that the Taliban had no knowledge of the Kabul attacks up to five hours after they began. The Afghan Taliban had earlier claimed responsibility for Fridays assaults that targeted residential hotels popular with foreigners.

Ansari told representatives of The Associated Press and other news organizations,in individual meetings,that the government was instituting a ban on live coverage at attack sites. He did not disclose specific details about how the ban would be imposed,but said there would be punitive measures taken against journalists who did not comply.

But the Afghan government later denied it had banned live media coverage of insurgent attacks,saying it was developing guidelines,not restrictions,to prevent live footage from aiding fighters at the scene.

Waheed Omar,a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai,said insurgents had used live broadcasts from the scene of attacks in the past to give instructions to fellow militants.

Omar said he would meet on Wednesday with the spokesmen of all Afghan ministries to discuss the formulation of guidelines.

In addition to thwarting the goals of militants,he said the

guidelines would also serve to protect journalists at the scene of attacks.