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By Staff
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WASHINGTON, Mar 20 (Reuters) Afghanistan's Foreign Minister urged Pakistan to do more to fight Taliban militants who infiltrate Afghanistan from border havens.

Abdullah Abdullah said Pakistan's actions against foreign al Qaeda members were a ''big contribution in the whole struggle,'' but he said the fight must be taken to Taliban extremists hiding in mountainous Afghan-Pakistan border areas.

''Once people resort to terrorist action, once they share he agenda with the terrorists, with al Qaeda, we don't make a distinction between foreign al Qaeda and Taliban,'' he said in remarks at the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington.

''That is what is expected from everybody,'' said Abdullah.

Echoing recent complaints by Afghanistan's government, the minister said militants who enjoy sanctuary in Pakistan border areas such as Waziristan ''are involved not only in local disturbances there but also sending groups of Taliban to Afghanistan.'' While relations between the Asian Muslim neighbors were deepening, with $1.5 billion in trade, ''in the security field, we need to work more together,'' Abdullah said.

Pakistan, which officially ended its support for the Taliban after the September 11 attacks on the United States, says it does all it can to stop cross-border movement by militants.

Afghanistan has been rocked by a series of suicide attacks aimed at foreign troops and government officials in recent months. US military leaders have said they expect a violent spring and summer before the security situation stabilises later in the year.

The Taliban, waging an insurgency against Kabul since their overthrow by US-led forces in late 2001, have taken responsibility for most of the attacks.

Despite the attacks, Abdullah, a former eye doctor, said the country was slowly recovering from 25 years of war, with thousands of former Taliban having quit the radical Islamic movement and rejoined mainstream society.

''I don't want to give the impression of mission accomplished, but we are on the right track,'' he said.

REUTERS VJ RAI0130

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