Author: PTI
Publication: The New Indian Express
Date: November 17, 2006
URL: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEH20061115123523
Admitting that Taliban militants were getting
'support' from Pakistani side, President Prevez Musharraf has said that US-led
coalition's strategy to stabilise Afghanistan was failing.
"There is trans-border cooperation in
militant activities, with the base in Afghanistan but support from Pakistan.
We need to isolate the two, and deal with whatever is happening from Pakistan
on our side, while the main action will have to be taken in Afghanistan to
counter militancy," Musharraf told Channel-4.
In the interview telecast on Tuesday, Musharraf
also acknowledged that Quetta in Balochistan has become a 'hotbed' for Taliban
activities but said the base of the militia was in Afghanistan.
"The base of the whole organisation (Taliban)
is in Afghanistan. The financing comes from the drug underworld. However,
they have support I will accept to an extent. Yes, in Quetta, there are about
450,000 Afghan refugees, and this is a hotbed of all kinds of activity,"
he told the British channel.
About the failure of coalition forces in countering
Taliban, he said, "They need to understand the realities. We need to
look into why they are failing. They have given a very, very easy cause, the
scapegoat of Pakistan. They will keep failing in Afghanistan if they continue
following this trend."
Replying to a question about his talks with
the British Prime Minister, he said, "Tony Blair is absolutely onboard
with everything I have told you. I know what is happening across the border,
and I have spoken about fencing, mining the border. Let's mine the border
and make sure nobody crosses it. I am for it."
