WASHINGTON, Aug 12: Plotters of the conspiracy to blow up airliners were linked to an Al Qaeda terrorist cell operating inside Afghanistan, according to Pakistan’s US envoy.

“Clear evidence leads to an Al Qaeda connection in Afghanistan,” said Ambassador Mahmud Ali Durrani while briefing a group of Pakistani journalists at his office.

The ambassador said that this was not part of a ‘tit-for-tat’ exchange of allegations that Afghanistan and Pakistan often indulge in and he was not blaming the Afghan government for allowing Al Qaeda to operate inside its territory.

Explaining how the conspiracy was unearthed, Mr Durrani said: “A few months ago, something happened” in Britain that drew the attention of British authorities “who got in touch with Pakistan and we made the first arrest.”

The person arrested in Pakistan “gave a wealth of information, which unravelled the terror plot,” said Mr Durrani, adding that he could not be more specific because it may hurt the investigation.

The Pakistani envoy said that US authorities and the media had been slow in acknowledging Pakistan’s role in unravelling the terror plot. “We will urge US authorities to publicly acknowledge this role,” he said.

He rejected media reports suggesting that Pakistan still had training facilities for terrorists. “There are no training camps for jihad in Pakistan,” he said.

“Time and again Pakistan is proving its credential in this important fight against terrorism,” said the ambassador.

Mr Durrani clarified that President Bush had not used the term ‘Islamic fascist’ to define ordinary Muslims. “He was talking about the people who are terrorists, not about Muslims in general. I have no problem with an indictment against terrorists.”

He advised people criticising President Bush for using this term, “not to start splitting hair.”

Mr Durrani disagreed with the suggestion that the event would make life even more difficult for Pakistanis living in Britain and the US.

“I call this fortunate because imagine, what would have happened if these people were not arrested,” he said. The ambassador hoped that the backlash against terrorism will be more focused and will not target ordinary Muslims.