Afghan Leader Cites 'Crisis Of Confidence' With Pakistan

Tensions were evident a year ago, as Afghans rallied to condemn Pakistan in the streets of Herat (epa) January 4, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says that ties between his country and Pakistan have deteriorated over the past year, Radio Free Afghanistan reports.

Karzai made the comments after a meeting today in Kabul with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

"Unfortunately, the differences in relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are increasing, not narrowing," Karzai said. "It is really regrettable that relations between two neighboring countries, between two very close countries, are faced with a crisis of confidence."

Karzai also reiterated his administration's objection to Pakistani plans to mine and fence part of the border with Afghanistan, and he said such a move would not stop terrorism.

"We believe that mines or barbed wire cannot stop terrorism," Karzai said. "The best way to defeat terrorism is to destroy its sources."

Officials in Kabul have repeatedly charged that Pakistani intelligence -- which played a key role in the arming of Afghans to oppose the Soviet invasion and purportedly enjoyed close ties to the hard-line Taliban regime -- does too little to discourage terrorist elements from using that country as a safe haven.

Aziz, for his part, said Islamabad continues to explore the plans in order to discourage people from crossing the border, which many Afghans regard as illegitimate.

(with additional reporting by AFP, Reuters)