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Afghan ambassador to US sez Taliban have safe havens in Pakistan
The Afghan ambassador to the United States, Said Jawad, was quoted here on Saturday as having stated that the Taliban have been emboldened by more advanced weaponry and greater mobility within the country and across the porous border to terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, and that "this is something even the Government of Pakistan does not dispute."The ambassador's remarks appeared in a report relating to Afghanistan in the Washington Times. The report, quoting the BBC, said, "Pakistan-based foreign militants with links to Al Qaeda and experience in Iraq have been offering large bounties to Afghans to kill US soldiers and have encouraged the wider use of suicide bombings and kidnappings." The Afghan envoy also said that the Taliban rely on "intimidation tactics" such as hiding in villages, burning down schools and medical clinics, and killing moderate tribal leaders and clergy to create a climate of fear. He said it was critical that the international community help reinforce the capacity of the cash-strapped Afghan government to deliver services "so the presence of the state will be felt in areas experiencing attacks." Posted by: Dan Darling 2006-06-07 |
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