Karzai tells Pakistan 'no proxy wars' in Afghanistan
Friday, 12 March 2010
ISLAMABAD, Mar 11 (AFP): Afghan President Hamid Karzai told Pakistan on Thursday his country did not want to become a battle ground for proxy wars and welcomed an offer from Islamabad to help with peace efforts.
Karzai met Pakistani leaders on his first visit to the neighbouring country -- viewed with deep suspicion by many Afghans -- since winning controversial elections last year and pledging to work towards peace talks with Taliban insurgents.
The Afghan president welcomed Islamabad's offers of support for Afghanistan's efforts at reconciliation, saying Pakistan "has a significantly important role to play in that and Afghanistan would welcome that role".
Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked operatives have carved out havens on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. Afghan and US officials have accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of still supporting Taliban attacks in Afghanistan.
Despite a series of reported Taliban arrests in Pakistan in recent weeks, scepticism remains on whether its powerful spy agency has made a clean break with Islamic hardliners.
Karzai met Pakistani leaders on his first visit to the neighbouring country -- viewed with deep suspicion by many Afghans -- since winning controversial elections last year and pledging to work towards peace talks with Taliban insurgents.
The Afghan president welcomed Islamabad's offers of support for Afghanistan's efforts at reconciliation, saying Pakistan "has a significantly important role to play in that and Afghanistan would welcome that role".
Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked operatives have carved out havens on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. Afghan and US officials have accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of still supporting Taliban attacks in Afghanistan.
Despite a series of reported Taliban arrests in Pakistan in recent weeks, scepticism remains on whether its powerful spy agency has made a clean break with Islamic hardliners.