Pakistani Leader Continues Afghan Visit

Presidents Musharraf (left) and Karzai in Kabul on September 6 (AFP) September 7, 2006 -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf is due to continue his visit to neighboring Afghanistan today with an address to cabinet members, parliamentarians, and other policymakers in Kabul.

On the first day of his visit, Musharraf pledged cooperation with Afghanistan in the battle against Al-Qaeda terrorists, Taliban militants, and what he called the "Talibanization" of society.

Musharraf also defended his government's recent cease-fire with militants in the North Waziristan tribal region along the Afghan border, saying Pakistani authorities would not permit the area to be turned into a terrorist sanctuary.

The visit is regarded as a further step to strengthen relations that have been strained by charges and countercharges of laxity in pursuing cross-border terrorists and insurgents.

A senior Pakistani army spokesman on September 6 dismissed as "fabricated" and "absurd" a U.S. news report suggesting that Pakistani authorities would not capture Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden if they had the chance.

Some experts believe bin Laden might be hiding in the difficult-to-police tribal areas of Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan.


Pakistan and Afghanistan also recently agreed within the framework of a quadrilateral group that includes the United States and NATO to better coordinate patrols along their volatile 2,430-kilometer border.

(AP, AFP)

The Afghan Insurgency

The Afghan Insurgency

A U.S. military vehicle damaged by insurgents near Kandahar (epa)

HOMEGROWN OR IMPORTED? As attacks against Afghan and international forces continue relentlessly, RFE/RL hosted a briefing to discuss the nature of the Afghan insurgency. The discussion featured Marvin Weinbaum, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and RFE/RL Afghanistan analyst Amin Tarzi.


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