Afghanistan wants ‘war on terror' in Pakistan

KABUL - Afghan President Hamid Karzai Sunday urged his Western military allies to change their strategy in the war on terror and instead target extremist hideouts in neighbouring Pakistan.
Karzai reiterated allegations that Taleban and Al Qaeda-linked militants are operating training camps in Pakistan from where they are launching attacks on targets in Afghanistan.
The US-backed leader repeated accusations that the Pakistani intelligence community was aiding the Islamic rebels, who are trying to topple his government in an insurgency that has intensified in recent years.
‘The strategy in the war on terrorism must be changed. The world must focus on terrorist bases, hideouts and training camps,’ he told reporters in his fortified palace in Kabul, referring to the Pakistani tribal belt, a lawless area on the border between the countries.
Karzai accused the international community, mainly Western powers which have a military presence in Afghanistan, of not listening to his warnings over Pakistan's involvement in the insurgency in the past.
‘Afghanistan has repeatedly and constantly informed its allies... about this, about what our neighbouring country's intelligence has been doing in Afghanistan.
‘It's still not too late. If the international community focuses on the terrorists' bases, hideouts and places where they are being trained and financed the problem is going to solved,’ he added.
Karzai warned of the ongoing dangers of civilian casualties.
‘The war on terrorism is not in Afghan villages,’ Karzai said.
‘Therefore, the use of air force in the war against terrorism in the Afghan villages will have no result but causing civilian casualties.’
Pakistan helped the Taleban when they were in power between 1996 and 2001 before making a U-turn and joining the US in the global ‘war on terror’ after the September 11 attacks on US cities blamed on Al Qaeda.