Pakistan ISI hand seen in embassy blast

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. intelligence agencies, using intercepted communications, say Pakistan's spy agency officers helped in the July 7 Indian embassy bombing in Afghanistan.

The bombing, which killed 54 people including the Indian defense attache, is seen as the clearest evidence thus far of Pakistani officers working against U.S. efforts to fight militancy in Afghanistan, The New York Times reported, quoting American government officials.

Immediately after the embassy bombing, Indian officials said Pakistan's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence officers had a hand in it.

U.S. intelligence officials concluded that the Pakistani spy officers, communicating with the militants, helped plan the embassy attack. The officials did not say what assistance the officers gave the militants, but indications were that they had clearance from higher ups for their actions, the newspaper said.

U.S. officials told The Times new information showed the Pakistani officers are increasingly providing militants with details about the American campaign against them, which in some cases allow the militants to escape missile strikes in Pakistan's tribal areas.

The concerns have strained U.S. relations with Pakistan and heightened India-Pakistan tensions, as evidence by reported clashes among their border troops in Kashmir, The Times said.

The Times had previously reported that a top U.S. Central Intelligence Agency official visited Pakistan this month to present information about ISI members providing information to militant groups.