Afghanistan concerned about Islamabad's commitment against the Talibans
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) Eyes on Pakistan after President Pervez Musharraf first promised, then changed his mind, about cracking down on Taliban forces on the border with Afghanistan. Among the keenest observers is Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta.
"What General Musharraf says is his responsibility," Dr Spanta said during a visit to India over the weekend. "I know Pakistan is in fact also a victim [of extremist violence]. Whether they reflect on it or not is another question. But we've had sincere and intensive negotiations [with Islamabad] and hope we can evolve a strategy of co-operation to face this challenge".
On June 28, after a visit by US Secretary of state Condoleeza Rice to Pakistan, Pakistan agreed to add another 10,000 troops to the 80,000 it said it already had deployed since 2003. But just four days later, Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said it was not necessary to send these men to the border to stop Talibans and al-Qaeda militants from crossing it.
Taliban violence in Afghanistan, especially in the south, is at its highest since they were driven from power in 2001. Islamabad has been accused of not doing enough to stem the Taliban offensive. Analysts claim that they are strong today because they can count on support from Pakistan which they are using to attack foreign troops in Afghanistan.
The Pakistanis have denied that they are helping the Talibans but they do acknowledge that small groups can cross the border.
Spanta, who will shortly visit the US, said if "internal and external factors" are favourable, Afghanistan should be able to resolve the Taliban problem in "two or three years' time". "But if the international community does not go after them, I don't know how the problem of terrorism can be resolved," he said.
The White House has also expressed its support for closer cooperation between the two countries, both important US allies in the war on terrorism. Only a few days ago Secretary Rice said that "what we need to work on more is US-Afghan-Pakistan cooperation in the region".
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17/03/2005
