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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Musharraf admits border problems | Musharraf admits border problems |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has conceded that some border security forces have been letting Taleban fighters cross into Afghanistan. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has conceded that some border security forces have been letting Taleban fighters cross into Afghanistan. |
| He said that there had been incidents in which guards had turned "a blind eye" to the militants. | He said that there had been incidents in which guards had turned "a blind eye" to the militants. |
| He again denied that his intelligence services were helping the Taleban. | He again denied that his intelligence services were helping the Taleban. |
| The Afghan government and Nato forces have been critical of border security and called on Pakistan to do more to curb cross-border militant activity. | The Afghan government and Nato forces have been critical of border security and called on Pakistan to do more to curb cross-border militant activity. |
| The president has also come under fire for pacts with tribal militants in the North and South Waziristan areas. | The president has also come under fire for pacts with tribal militants in the North and South Waziristan areas. |
| Critics say the deals give Taleban fighters based there freedom to go where they please. | Critics say the deals give Taleban fighters based there freedom to go where they please. |
| 'Difficult' | |
| "We had some incidents I know of that in some [border] posts, a blind eye was being turned," President Musharraf told a press conference in Islamabad when asked about criticism of Pakistan's role in the US-led war on terror. | "We had some incidents I know of that in some [border] posts, a blind eye was being turned," President Musharraf told a press conference in Islamabad when asked about criticism of Pakistan's role in the US-led war on terror. |
| Militants say they can move around the border area with impunity | |
| "So similarly I imagine that others may be doing the same." | "So similarly I imagine that others may be doing the same." |
| The president said that it would be difficult for two border guards on a typical check post on the Afghan border when they are faced with a group of "20 well-armed, well-trained and well-motivated people challenging them". | The president said that it would be difficult for two border guards on a typical check post on the Afghan border when they are faced with a group of "20 well-armed, well-trained and well-motivated people challenging them". |
| The BBC's Haroon Rashid on a recent visit to the South Waziristan region met tribal militants allied to the Taleban who openly admitted crossing over into Afghanistan to fight foreign troops. | The BBC's Haroon Rashid on a recent visit to the South Waziristan region met tribal militants allied to the Taleban who openly admitted crossing over into Afghanistan to fight foreign troops. |
| Gen Musharraf repeated Pakistani complaints that his country was being made "a scapegoat" for the resurgence of Taleban-led militants. | |
| He pointed out that Afghan authorities, and US and Nato-led troops in Afghanistan shared responsibility for the border. | |
| "A misperception is being created that the resurgence of Taleban is from Pakistan. This is absolutely wrong. The resurgence of the Taleban is in Afghanistan, but some support goes from Pakistan," he said. | |
| Fence plans | |
| The president also gave details of controversial plans to build a fence along the Afghan border. | |
| He said 35kms (22 miles) of fencing would be erected to reinforce the "porous mountain border with Afghanistan". | |
| He said that the first phase would see fencing erected at seven or eight locations along Pakistan's north-west frontier, which would take a "few months" to be completed. | |
| "The decision has been taken and movement of logistics must be taking place at the moment," he said. | |
| President Musharraf said mines would not be used in the first phase because of concerns raised by the international community. | |
| But he said that it was possible that fencing and mines would be used to secure 250kms (150 miles) of the frontier further south, in Balochistan province. | |
| "No one has the right to criticise unless they come up with an alternative solution... if there is no (other) solution, we will do it our way," the president said. | |
| 'Fairly optimistic' | |
| Turning to relations with India, the president said that confidence-building measures under the peace process that began three years ago were going well. | |
| He said that he was "fairly optimistic" that the two governments would be able to move forward to resolve all issues in dispute, including the Kashmir question. | |
| "Our relations have never been this good before in our history, and we ought to be happy about that," he said. |