Afghanistan Says Pakistan Must Do More To Battle Taliban

A Pakistani soldier guards a destroyed market after three days of fighting between pro-Taliban militants and security forces in Miran Shah, in North Waziristan along the Afghan border, March 8 (epa) March 20, 2006 -- Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah has said neighboring Pakistan needs to do more to combat Taliban elements on its soil.

Speaking in Washington today, Abdullah said extremist elements in northwest Pakistan are recruiting, training, and sending groups of Taliban to Afghanistan.

Abdullah also called for more cooperation in the security field between Kabul and Islamabad.

These remarks are the latest in a tit-for-tat exchange between officials of the two countries over allegations that Pakistan is not doing enough to combat militants.

A wave of suicide bombings in recent months has killed dozens of people in Afghanistan as part of an intensified insurgency.

(AFP)