Musharraf Criticizes Karzai As 'Oblivious'

Pakistani President Musharraf (left) with Afghanistan's President Karzai (file photo) (epa) March 5, 2006 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says Afghan President Hamid Karzai is "oblivious" to events in Afghanistan.

Speaking on CNN on March 5, Musharraf said there was a deliberate attempt to malign Pakistan by some Afghan agents and that Karzai was totally unaware of what was happening in his own country. He did not specify which agents he was talking about.

For weeks, the two countries have exchanged accusations about whether Pakistan is sheltering terrorists and remnants of the Taliban, the radical regime toppled by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Afghanistan recently accused Pakistan of not following up on intelligence leads to Al-Qaeda members allegedly sheltering in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has denied the allegations, pointing out that it has thousands of troops near the border with Afghanistan to root out militants.

(AFP)