Afghan violence fueled by foreigners

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Foreign meddling in the insurgency is Afghanistan is near its worst level in years, says the director of intelligence for U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

U.S. intelligence analysts estimate there are as many as 27,000 insurgents operating in Afghanistan, up from the 3,000 or so in 2004.

Maj. Gen. Mike Flynn, director of intelligence for McChrystal, the top military commander in Afghanistan, says the rise is partially explained by U.S. commitments to Iraq, the Air Force Times reports.

"We were in the middle of that period of time when we were losing in Iraq, and I just think people weren't paying attention enough, and certainly not listening to the leadership out here at that time," he said.

Flynn said the insurgent community comes mostly from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, German and Chechnya.

As far as national support, however, Flynn said it was "very possible" certain members of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence agency were cooperating with insurgents, but stressed there was "no known" coordination with Islamabad, the report said.

Regarding Iran, Flynn was more direct, blaming the elite Qods Force for "conducting intelligence operations," and "playing games on both sides (of the Afghan-Pakistan border) that are very dangerous."

His comments come as Washington reviews its latest strategy for Afghanistan against the backdrop of a second term of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who was declared victorious by Afghan election officials Monday.