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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| War on Taleban tops Kabul agenda | War on Taleban tops Kabul agenda |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are set to hold talks in Kabul to discuss the ongoing fight against the Taleban. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are set to hold talks in Kabul to discuss the ongoing fight against the Taleban. |
| Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who is also visiting Afghanistan, said the fight against the Taleban "must be won and will be won". | |
| Nato forces have suffered significant losses in Afghanistan in recent weeks. | |
| Gen Musharraf's visit comes a day after Pakistan signed a pact with pro-Taleban militants on the Afghan border. | Gen Musharraf's visit comes a day after Pakistan signed a pact with pro-Taleban militants on the Afghan border. |
| Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have been strained because of differences in tackling what both refer to as cross-border terrorism. | Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have been strained because of differences in tackling what both refer to as cross-border terrorism. |
| A Pakistani spokesman said President Musharraf - who arrived in Kabul on Wednesday - and Mr Karzai would discuss "economic co-operation, reconstruction activities in Afghanistan and co-operation in the fight against terrorism". | |
| Constant battle | Constant battle |
| Meanwhile, more than 50 Taleban fighters were killed on Tuesday in a major ongoing offensive by Nato-led forces in the Panjwayi district in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, a Nato spokesman said. | Meanwhile, more than 50 Taleban fighters were killed on Tuesday in a major ongoing offensive by Nato-led forces in the Panjwayi district in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, a Nato spokesman said. |
| Tuesday saw more artillery barrages and air strikes, although the fighting is less intensive than over the weekend when Nato says 200 militants were killed - a figure disputed by the Taleban, who say many of the casualties were civilians. | Tuesday saw more artillery barrages and air strikes, although the fighting is less intensive than over the weekend when Nato says 200 militants were killed - a figure disputed by the Taleban, who say many of the casualties were civilians. |
| Nato took over command of southern Afghanistan from the US a month ago, and has since been steadily engaged in battle. | Nato took over command of southern Afghanistan from the US a month ago, and has since been steadily engaged in battle. |
| Mr de Hoop Scheffer said: "The spoilers are testing out Nato to see if Nato is as robust as the coalition. The answer as we now see is, 'Yes'." | Mr de Hoop Scheffer said: "The spoilers are testing out Nato to see if Nato is as robust as the coalition. The answer as we now see is, 'Yes'." |
| He said Nato troop levels were sufficient, but that they could be increased in the future if the mission demanded it. | He said Nato troop levels were sufficient, but that they could be increased in the future if the mission demanded it. |
| "We should win because not winning means Afghanistan becoming a failed state again," he said. | "We should win because not winning means Afghanistan becoming a failed state again," he said. |
| 'Difficult' border | 'Difficult' border |
| On Monday, Pakistan signed the North Waziristan accord which calls on tribesmen to expel foreign militants and end cross-border attacks in return for a reduced military presence. | On Monday, Pakistan signed the North Waziristan accord which calls on tribesmen to expel foreign militants and end cross-border attacks in return for a reduced military presence. |
| The agreement is the first of its kind since Pakistani troops went after Taleban and al-Qaeda elements on the Afghan border. | The agreement is the first of its kind since Pakistani troops went after Taleban and al-Qaeda elements on the Afghan border. |
| Relations between the two neighbours have been strained after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of failing to prevent infiltration of militants to launch attacks in Afghanistan. | Relations between the two neighbours have been strained after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of failing to prevent infiltration of militants to launch attacks in Afghanistan. |
| Pakistan ended support for the Taleban in 2001 and has denied the accusations that Taleban fighters are launching attacks in Afghanistan from safe havens within Pakistan's tribal border areas. | Pakistan ended support for the Taleban in 2001 and has denied the accusations that Taleban fighters are launching attacks in Afghanistan from safe havens within Pakistan's tribal border areas. |
| In February, Afghanistan gave a list of 150 Taleban suspects living in Pakistan whom they believe have carried out attacks in Afghanistan. | In February, Afghanistan gave a list of 150 Taleban suspects living in Pakistan whom they believe have carried out attacks in Afghanistan. |
| Gen Musharraf said that the information was "old and outdated". | Gen Musharraf said that the information was "old and outdated". |
| Mr Karzai rejected the criticism, saying that intelligence given to Pakistan was up-to-date. | Mr Karzai rejected the criticism, saying that intelligence given to Pakistan was up-to-date. |
| The two countries share a 1,400-mile (2,250km) mountainous border which is extremely difficult to patrol. | The two countries share a 1,400-mile (2,250km) mountainous border which is extremely difficult to patrol. |
| Taleban and al-Qaeda elements are believed to be operating on both sides of the border. | Taleban and al-Qaeda elements are believed to be operating on both sides of the border. |