Nato: no plan to enter pakistan for militant hunt

Source: CCTV.com | 07-25-2008 09:27

NATO is calling for more political attention on Afghanistan and says it has no plans to go into Pakistan to hunt militants. Visiting NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan is critical to global security.

Afghan policemen stand guard at a checkpoint in Ghazni in 2007. The NATO chief called Thursday for Pakistan to be more involved in tackling extremist bases on its soil, as Afghanistan was hit by new attacks with at least 34 Taliban bodies found after one battle.(AFP)

After talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Scheffer said NATO will not be sending troops into Pakistan to hunt down militants.

Jaap De Hoop Scheffer, the NATO Secretary General, says, "It is crystal clear that we have seen that if NATO forces are shot at from the other side of the border, there's always the right to self-defense, but you will not, I repeat, you will not see NATO forces crossing into Pakistani territory."

Scheffer says a regional approach is needed in tackling Afghanistan's security situation. He has also called for increased political attention from the international community.

NATO says that attacks by the militants against its forces have increased by 40 percent in Afghanistan compared to this time last year.

Scheffer says that addressing the current situation is critical for stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan and for global security.

The remark comes amid surging criticism from Afghan officials who say militants are using sanctuaries inside Pakistan to launch cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. Last month Karzai warned he might send troops to fight them.

Editor:Zhang Yue