Karzai Issues New Plea For Pakistani Help Against Terrorism

President Karzai speaking to RFE/RL correspondents in Kabul on April 5 (RFE/RL)

KABUL, April 5, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai today urged neighboring Pakistan to work more closely with Afghan security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Speaking in Kabul during an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, Karzai said Afghanistan wants friendly relations with all of its neighbors.

"Most of Afghanistan's problems [with foreign support for terrorist acts] are along the border -- especially at the borders with our brethren country Pakistan," Karzai said. "A lot of attacks occur on both sides of that border. We hope that our brothers in Pakistan and the esteemed president of Pakistan -- President General Pervez Musharraf -- will give us a helping hand with this strong and essential fight against terrorism both in Afghanistan and in Pakistan."

Karzai's remarks come as U.S. diplomats in Islamabad seek a broader strategic partnership between the United States and Pakistan.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have exchanged accusations in recent months as each side questioned the other's commitment to combating attacks by Islamic militants and separatist fighters.