UPDATE - Kabul blames Pakistan, Haqqani network for bombing

UPDATES WITH PAKISTAN'S REJECTION OF ALLEGATIONS

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Afghanistan has blamed Pakistan and a Taliban-affiliated group for Wednesday’s massive truck bombing in the capital Kabul that claimed up to 90 lives and left more than 400 injured.

The Afghan spy agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) said Thursday that early findings showed the Haqqani network with the assistance of the Pakistan’s intelligence agency carried out the attack.

"Terrorists have once again proved they were representing no religion and ideology and staged such attacks just to please their Pakistani lords," the NDS said in a statement.

After Taliban denied their involvement, it was highly anticipated that Daesh -- which has claimed multiple attacks in Kabul recently -- might own the attack in diplomatic enclave, but so far no group has taken responsibility.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani also appeared on television and urged the nation to unite against the enemy.

"I want to tell those regional countries and those who are harboring and training terrorists for their political targets that the Afghan nation and the international community is aware about their activities", Ghani said.

He also received telephone calls from the U.S. President Donald Trump and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel after the bombing.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health raised the death toll to 90 while more than 400 people remain wounded.

Mohammad Ismael, spokesman for the Health Ministry, told Anadolu Agency that the hospitals were overwhelmed with patients.

"Our doctors are trying their best. We are receiving good response from the public who have generously donated much-needed blood," he said.

Afghanistan is mourning the victims. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has cancelled its proposed series of matches with Pakistan in protest.

- Pakistan rejects involvement in attack

Pakistan has rejected Afghanistan’s allegations that Islamabad was involved in the deadly attack.

"We reject the baseless allegations. The accusatory approach is unhelpful towards efforts for peace," Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nafees Zakaria told a weekly briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.

"It is disappointing that some elements, who have no interest in peace in Afghanistan and want to damage Afghan-Pakistan relations, have been maligning Pakistan for their own agenda," Zakaria said.

The spokesman added that Pakistan, as the "most sincere friend and well-wisher of Afghan people", had contributed to the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process, whenever requested.

"Pakistan has suffered from the menace of terrorism and has made unparalleled sacrifices. We have done more than any other nation in the world in the fight against terrorism. Pakistan has the highest stakes in peace and stability in Afghanistan”, he said.

"No country gets affected more than Pakistan due to the instability in Afghanistan. Pakistan's commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan is, therefore, beyond any doubt."

Zakaria also noted that all recent independent assessments on the situation in Afghanistan suggested that the factors responsible for the deteriorating security situation were internal to Afghanistan.

*Aamir Latif contributed to this story from Karachi, Pakistan