Pak Foreign Minister: Peace in Afghanistan, Pakistan interlinked; UK to send in 700 more troops; PM Brown: Pak-Afghan border “crucible of terrorism”
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    • Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, talking to reporters in Kabul after attending a trilateral meeting with his Afghan and Iranian counterparts on April 27 reiterated that peace and stability of Pakistan and Afghanistan were inter-linked1.

    Even as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates stated that it will be difficult on the part of his country to send in more troops to Afghanistan, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on April 29 confirmed that Britain would send an additional 700 troops to fight alongside American and NATO forces2. PM Brown also termed the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan as the “crucible of global terrorism.” US CENTCOM Commander Gen. David Petraeus on his part, speaking at Kansas University, pointed out that al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, because of their safe haven in Pakistan and funding they obtained from drug money and foreign donations, have demonstrated considerable resilience in opposing coalition forces3.

    Meanwhile US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, ahead of the meeting in Washington in the coming week with the Afghan and Pakistani Presidents, stated that she expected "intense sessions" when the two leaders meet with President Obama to discuss steps to stabilise their respective countries4.

    In other developments, President Karzai announced his candidacy for the presidential elections scheduled to be held on August 20, 20095. US Secretary of State Clinton on her part stated that the Obama administration will neither support nor oppose any candidate in the presidential elections6. The head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, Kai Eide also urged the Taliban to participate in the August elections7.

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