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Kouchner: Pakistan must help Kabul end violence
The Taliban-backed violence in Afghanistan can only be stopped with the help of Pakistan, French Foreign Minister (FM) Bernard Kouchner said on Sunday.The French FM was speaking during his visit to a NATO airbase in southern Kandahar. Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier was also present. Further military means are needed for the process of securing Afghanistan to proceed ... but there must also be a regional view, particularly with regards to neighbouring Pakistan, Kouchner told AFP. Kouchner said that he had a discussion on Saturday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, regarding efforts to step up security along the 2,500-kilometre-long Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which is difficult to patrol. Border: This is an Afghan-Pakistan problem, but this incredible looseness which allows all sorts of trafficking cannot be allowed to continue, he said. This border problem needs to be resolved, and if we can take part in that process, that would be great, he added, saying he was also planning to meet Pakistans new leadership. Posted by: Fred 2008-04-14 |
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