Jalaluddin Haqqani.—AP

WASHINGTON: The Defence Department says the Haqqani insurgent network was behind the powerful truck bomb that wounded 77 US soldiers and killed five Afghans this past weekend.

The Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack Saturday outside a combat outpost in eastern Wardak province.

But Defence Department press secretary George Little said Monday that it was Haqqani operatives. Little said it is highly likely their top leadership supported and was aware of the attack.

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