US urges Afghanistan-Pakistan to crack down on border attacks

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-17-2007 09:07

In Kabul visiting US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned that insurgent attacks into Afghanistan from Pakistan are increasing.

He made the remark after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday. Both sides say they'll spare no efforts to defend security in Afghanistan.

The security situation in Afghanistan is topping the agenda of the US Defense Secretary's visit to Kabul. Violence in the warn-torn country has risen to its highest level in five years. Especially triggered by frequent insurgent attacks in the south. US and NATO forces are expecting a fresh Taliban offensive in the spring. And Gates says Pakistan has a critical role to play in tackling the issue.

Robert Gates, US Defense Secretary, said, "Pakistan has been an extraordinarily strong ally of United States in the war on terror, and that the border area is a problem that there are more attacks coming across the border, that there are Al Qeada networks operating on the Pakistani side of the border, and these are issues that we clearly will have to pursue with the Pakistani government."