KABUL - Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has placed the blame on America, not the Taliban, for a spate of recent attacks that have left more than 20 dead, accusing the United States of secretly staging insurgent strikes as a coy means of destabilizing the government.

The Washington Post reported that an unnamed official who sympathizes with Mr. Karzai said the Afghanistan leader believes the United States has staged the secret attacks and wants to create unrest in order to weaken the nation. The official also said that Mr. Karzai has no evidence to support that claim — just a feeling.

The most recent attacks in Afghanistan — believed to have been conducted by Taliban militants — have left 21 dead, including three Americans.

The report is just one more sign that amicable relations between the White House and Mr. Karzai have fallen. The two sides are trying to forge a deal that would allow some U.S. troops to remain past the 2014 withdrawal date, but the latest is Mr. Karzai — upset over drone strikes that have killed several citizens — won’t sign any agreement until the upcoming elections in April. (WT)