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US defence chief in Taleban talks US 'not to repeat Afghan errors'
(about 2 hours later)
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has held talks with President Pervez Musharraf on combating an expected Taleban offensive this spring. The US will not repeat its error of neglecting Afghanistan and allowing extremists to take over, Defence Secretary Robert Gates says.
He said Gen Musharraf had been meeting his army commanders to discuss better security on the country's border with Afghanistan, reports say. He was speaking after talks in neighbouring Pakistan with President Pervez Musharraf.
Gen Musharraf said recently that border security forces have been letting the Taleban cross into Afghanistan. Nato and Afghan forces are preparing for a Taleban offensive this spring.
The two countries share a 1,400-mile (2,250km) mountainous border. On Sunday the governor of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province said up to 700 insurgents had crossed from Pakistan to fight British forces.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share a 1,400-mile (2,250km) mountainous border.
Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters are thought to be operating on both sides of the border which is extremely difficult to patrol.Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters are thought to be operating on both sides of the border which is extremely difficult to patrol.
"There is a mutual interest in improving our effectiveness and improving our cooperation and understanding so that we have a real opportunity this spring," Mr Gates said, the AFP news agency reports. 'Long haul'
"What we really focused [at the talks] on was not getting assurances and making demands but rather on how we can work together better to be more effective in efforts on the border to stop the Taleban and stop al-Qaeda." Mr Gates was on his first trip to Pakistan since becoming US Defence Secretary.
Mr Gates described Pakistan as a "very strong ally" of the US in the fight against terrorism.
'Scapegoat'
This is Mr Gates' first visit to Pakistan since assuming his post in December.
Mr Gates travelled to Pakistan after four days of meetings in Spain and Germany on the war against terror in Afghanistan.
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.
"We cant be successful unless Pakistan is part of the equation in eliminating this insurgency," one unnamed Nato official was quoted as telling Reuters news agency ahead of Mr Gates' visit to Islamabad.
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.
Militants say they can move around the border area with impunityMilitants say they can move around the border area with impunity
For his part, Gen Musharraf has denied reports that his intelligence services were helping the Taleban and said his country was being made "a scapegoat" for the resurgence of Taleban-led militants. "My first visits to Pakistan were over 20 years ago and were in connection with our mutual effort to help the Afghans drive the Soviet troops from their territory," he told journalists.
He has said that Afghan authorities, and US and Nato-led troops in Afghanistan shared responsibility for the border. "After the Soviets left, the United States made a mistake. We neglected Afghanistan and extremism took control of that country.
There are currently around 33,000 troops from 37 nations in Afghanistan. "We won't make that mistake again. We are here for the long haul."
Correspondents say that Afghanistan's lawless border regions with Pakistan is a major haven for international terrorism, and is the area where the Taleban are regrouping. Mr Gates said that in his talks with the Pakistan government he had discussed ways that Pakistan could work with US commanders in Afghanistan to pressure insurgents on both sides of the border.
He said the allies had a chance to deal a strategic setback to the Taleban and described Pakistan as a very strong ally.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that Mr Gates did not repeat criticism expressed by other US and Nato officials that Islamabad is not going after Taleban fighters who take refuge on its soil.
President Musharraf has admitted there are weak points in policing the border and that the Taleban do get support from within Pakistan.
But he has strongly denied any official backing for the Taleban.
He has also refused to take sole responsibility for the border, saying that border security must be a joint effort with forces on the Afghan side.
Our correspondent says that Western officials acknowledge President Musharraf's difficulties, but they are afraid that the Taleban are using Pakistan to prepare for a spring offensive. More high-level visits here are expected to Pakistan shortly.
Gen Musharraf's government 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.
The new Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen Dan McNeill, says that 2,000 extra troops are needed to patrol the border with Pakistan.The new Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen Dan McNeill, says that 2,000 extra troops are needed to patrol the border with Pakistan.
"I think we may see some changes along the border," General Banta Craddock, Nato's supreme commander, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. There are currently around 33,000 troops from 37 nations in Afghanistan.
"They [Pakistani authorities] told me they are taking measures to address this and provide greater control."
Last month, Mr Gates met Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul to discuss ways of combating resurgent Taleban fighters.