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Karzai issues warning to Pakistan | Karzai issues warning to Pakistan |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has threatened to send troops over the border into Pakistan to confront militants based there. | |
He said that when militants crossed over from Pakistan to kill Afghans and coalition troops, his nation had the right to retaliate in "self-defence". | He said that when militants crossed over from Pakistan to kill Afghans and coalition troops, his nation had the right to retaliate in "self-defence". |
Mr Karzai's remarks came two days after Taleban fighters attacked an Afghan jail, freeing hundreds of prisoners. | Mr Karzai's remarks came two days after Taleban fighters attacked an Afghan jail, freeing hundreds of prisoners. |
Pakistan warned it would not tolerate outside interference in its affairs. | |
Yusuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister, said the border between their two countries was too long to police. | |
Destabilise | |
"Neither do we interfere in anyone else's matters, nor will we allow anyone to interfere in our territorial limits and our affairs," he told the Associated Press news agency. | |
"We want a stable Afghanistan. It is in our interest. How can we go to destabilise our brotherly country?" | |
Pakistan denies providing a safe haven for the Taleban or other militants. | Pakistan denies providing a safe haven for the Taleban or other militants. |
Baitullah Mehsud (left) is one of Pakistan's most feared militants | |
Mr Karzai has long pleaded for Pakistan and international forces to confront militants in Pakistan but has never before threatened to send troops over the border. | |
The BBC's Quil Lawrence in Kabul says it is the strongest language yet from Mr Karzai on his neighbour. | The BBC's Quil Lawrence in Kabul says it is the strongest language yet from Mr Karzai on his neighbour. |
But while the Afghan president is using more provocative language than before, it remains to be seen whether this leads to more robust action, our correspondent says. | But while the Afghan president is using more provocative language than before, it remains to be seen whether this leads to more robust action, our correspondent says. |
Mr Karzai's news conference had been intended to focus on this week's Afghan donors' conference in Paris, at which world powers pledged about $20bn (£10bn) to help re-build his country. | Mr Karzai's news conference had been intended to focus on this week's Afghan donors' conference in Paris, at which world powers pledged about $20bn (£10bn) to help re-build his country. |
But instead, it was dominated by the prison break that led to the escape of some 900 inmates, including 350 Taleban members, and Afghanistan's response to militant attacks. | |
Mr Karzai said: "Afghanistan has the right of self-defence. When they cross the territory from Pakistan to come and kill Afghans and to kill coalition troops it exactly gives us the right to go back and do the same." | Mr Karzai said: "Afghanistan has the right of self-defence. When they cross the territory from Pakistan to come and kill Afghans and to kill coalition troops it exactly gives us the right to go back and do the same." |
'Two-way road' | |
He warned that he was prepared to seek out Taleban leaders wherever they were, specifically naming Baitullah Mehsud, who is based in South Waziristan, Pakistan. | |
"Baitullah Mehsud should know that we will go after him now and hit him in his house," Mr Karzai said, adding that Taleban leader Mullah Omar could expect the same. | "Baitullah Mehsud should know that we will go after him now and hit him in his house," Mr Karzai said, adding that Taleban leader Mullah Omar could expect the same. |
Afghan security forces have been searching for the escaped prisoners | Afghan security forces have been searching for the escaped prisoners |
He went on: "This is a two-way road in this case and Afghans are good in the two-way road journey." | |
Some 20 escapees from Kandahar prison have been recaptured in the manhunt by Afghan and international troops, according to Afghan officials. | |
Nato said at least 17 insurgents had been killed but did not confirm whether any fugitives from the jail were among the dead. | |
The US military said those killed were hit by an air strike after being found at a farm in Kandahar with a cache of weapons. | |
A former Taleban stronghold, Kandahar is one of the key battlegrounds in the insurgency against President Karzai and troops from Nato and a US-led coalition. | |