KABUL, Jan 21: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Sunday “certain Pakistani circles” were protecting insurgents fighting in Afghanistan and added that drugs and corruption in his government were contributing to the violence.

Mr Karzai, speaking at the opening of a new session of the Afghan parliament, said the danger from the insurgency and drugs would intensify in the coming year. He called on the people to rally to the defence of the nation.

“The enemies of Afghanistan’s freedom and independence very disgracefully continued their intervention and meddling in our internal affairs,” Mr Karzai said, referring to last year which was the bloodiest since US-led forces defeated the Taliban in 2001.

“They formed terrorist groups consisting of international terrorist networks under the protection of certain Pakistani circles for martyring mercilessly our children, teachers and clerics,” he remarked. He did not elaborate.

The US military has reported a sharp increase in the number of Taliban attacks from Pakistan, where US military officials say the Taliban's command and control is based in the tribal areas.

Pakistan, which has been battling militants in its tribal lands along the border, acknowledges that some militants are slipping into Afghanistan, but says the Taliban are an Afghan problem, feeding on poverty and anger with the government over corruption. Mr Karzai too highlighted the danger of corruption. “Administrative corruption is one of the main problems of the government and society.”—Reuters