The Plot That Never Was - More Disinformation In Afghanistan

But this week he was caught up amid reports of a huge suicide attack being foiled at the ministry of defence, with 11 suicide vests found and as many as 18 people arrested.

It was said officials of Afghanistan's intelligence service, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), were warning of an attack by the Haqqani Network, an insurgent group allied to the Taliban, which would also involve Afghan soldiers.

According to the rumour mill, the NDS had asked Afghanistan's defence minister to dismiss a general with longstanding "links" to the Haqqanis.

The reports triggered a frenzy of speculation that refused to die down completely, despite a series of formal defence ministry statements vehemently denying anything had happened, and the presidency threatening legal action.

It is an illustration of both the factionalism that plagues the authorities in Kabul, and the persistence of rumour in the Afghan capital. MORE