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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| War on Taleban tops Kabul agenda | War on Taleban tops Kabul agenda |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is in Afghanistan for discussions with President Hamid Karzai on the ongoing fight against the Taleban. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is in Afghanistan for discussions with President Hamid Karzai on the ongoing fight against the Taleban. |
| Gen Musharraf was whisked from Kabul airport to the presidential palace in an armed motorcade. | Gen Musharraf was whisked from Kabul airport to the presidential palace in an armed motorcade. |
| The two leaders have argued in the past about how to fight militants. | The two leaders have argued in the past about how to fight militants. |
| 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 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 losses in Afghanistan in recent weeks. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Afghan press eyes visit Nato took over command of southern Afghanistan from the US a month ago. | |
| Mr de Hoop Scheffer said: "The spoilers are testing out Nato to see if Nato is as robust as the (US-led) 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. | |
| In an example of the violence wracking the country, a suicide bomber attacked a car in Yaqubi in the eastern province of Khost on Wednesday, killing the teacher and civil servant seated inside. | |
| One report suggested the bomber may have mistaken the vehicle for that carrying a local district chief. | |
| Neighbours' dispute | |
| Gen Musharraf's visit comes after Pakistan signed a pact with pro-Taleban militants on the Afghan border. | Gen Musharraf's visit comes after Pakistan signed a pact with pro-Taleban militants on the Afghan border. |
| The North Waziristan accord calls on tribesmen to expel foreign militants and end cross-border attacks in return for a reduced military presence. | The North Waziristan accord calls on tribesmen to expel foreign militants and end cross-border attacks in return for a reduced military presence. |
| Many observers doubt the accord can be enforced, pointing to similar deals in neighbouring South Waziristan which strengthened the hand of Taleban supporters. | Many observers doubt the accord can be enforced, pointing to similar deals in neighbouring South Waziristan which strengthened the hand of Taleban supporters. |
| A Pakistani spokesman said President Musharraf and Mr Karzai would discuss "economic co-operation, reconstruction activities in Afghanistan and co-operation in the fight against terrorism". | A Pakistani spokesman said President Musharraf and Mr Karzai would discuss "economic co-operation, reconstruction activities in Afghanistan and co-operation in the fight against terrorism". |
| 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 issued a list of 150 Taleban suspects living in Pakistan whom it said it believed had carried out attacks in Afghanistan. | |
| 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. | |
| The two countries share a 2,250km (1,400-mile) mountainous border which is extremely difficult to patrol. | The two countries share a 2,250km (1,400-mile) 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. |