Afghanistan denies receiving payments from CIA

KABUL - Afghanistan’s presidential office has rejected and rubbished American news media reports that government officials had received payments from the C.I.A. in return for information.

A statement from the spokesman’s office called the reports part of an attempt to divert attention from the greater priorities of fighting terrorism, preventing civilian casualties, and disbanding private security companies.

“Afghanistan believes that making such allegations will not strengthen the alliance against terrorism and will not strengthen an Afghanistan based on the law and rules, but will have negative effects in those areas,” the statement said.

“We strongly condemn such irresponsible allegations which just create doubt and defame responsible people of this country,” it said.

The New York Times reported that the C.I.A. had been paying Mohammed Zia Salehi, the chief of administration for Afghanistan’s National Security Council, who was arrested last month as part of an investigation into corruption.

The Washington Post reported that the C.I.A. was making payments to a large number of officials in President Hamid Karzai’s administration. (ANI)