Afghans call on US to to put pressure on Pakistan to quell cross-border terrorist attacks

Afghans call on US to improve security
By Rachel Morajee in Kandahar
Published: February 13 2006 02:00 | Last updated: February 13 2006 02:00

Local leaders in southern Afghanistan have called on the US to put pressure on Pakistan to quell cross-border terrorist attacks ahead of a visit by President Hamid Karzai to Islamabad later this week.

The comments came after 13 people were killed when a suicide bomber struck a police headquarters in Kandahar on Tuesday - the latest in a wave of Iraq-style attacks across the south and east of Afghanistan.

"Pakistan is producing terrorists and sending them to conduct suicide attacks on our innocent people," said Hayatullah Aliko, a tribal elder in the city, echoing earlier accusations by Assadullah Khalid, Kandahar provincial governor.

Mr Eikenberry said Pakistan had been important in securing peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections, putting 70,000 troops along the rugged 2,000km border. But he conceded there was more work ahead.

"There is a challenge on both sides of the border with al-Qaeda and associated movements. This is something which has developed over 30 years and so this is going to take time and commitment from the US and Pakistan to work our way through," he said.

Afghan officials have blamed foreign militants for the rising violence in the south and east that has seen more than 20 attacks in the past four months, saying they are launching attacks from tribal areas of Pakistan where they can operate with greater impunity.

"President Karzai will raise this issue when he goes to Pakistan. We will have frank discussions," an Afghan intelligence official said.