TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Afghanistan Aims Threat At Pakistan

ADVERTISEMENT

Los Angeles Times

Published: June 16, 2008

Updated: 06/16/2008 12:22 am

KABUL, Afghanistan - The president of Afghanistan threatened Sunday to send troops into Pakistan if Taliban fighters holed up there continue to cross the border and attack his country.

"Afghanistan has the right of self-defense," President Hamid Karzai said. He specifically threatened to target Baitullah Mahsud, the self-declared commander of Pakistan's Taliban movement, who has boasted of sending fighters into Afghanistan.

The comments were the Afghan leader's sharpest warning yet to Pakistan's new leadership, which has been conducting negotiations with Islamic militants, including Mahsud, based in the tribal areas adjoining the border.

In response to the warning, Pakistan said it would consider any such strike by foreign forces inside its territory a violation of its sovereignty.

Analysts expressed doubt Karzai would make good on his threat to send Afghan troops on cross-border raids, but said the remarks reflect frustration on his part.

"It seems like more of a symbolic declaration rather than something that would really happen, but it shows the kind of pressure he is under," said analyst Talat Masood, a retired Pakistani general.

The inability of Afghan and Western forces to contain the insurgency in Afghanistan, more than six years after toppling the Taliban movement, has hurt Karzai's domestic popularity and credibility at a time when he is preparing to stand for re-election.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT