Karzai urges war on militants beyond Afghan border

KABUL, June 22 (Reuters) President Hamid Karzai voiced his concern today over growing attacks by insurgents in Afghanistan and urged the world to extend the war against the militants beyond his country's borders.

Afghanistan is going through its bloodiest period of violence since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 and ahead of the NATO takeover from US forces in the volatile south.

''We are concerned about the situation and about the increase of attacks against our country,'' Karzai told a news conference at his heavily fortified presidential palace.

More than 1,000 people, including more than 40 foreign soldiers, have been killed in violence this year. Among the latest casualties were four US soldiers, killed in a clash yesterday.

''We know the causes. There are shortcomings and inabilities in our system, that weakness is present all over the country,'' Karzai said.

''But there is no doubt it is largely because of foreign factors, terrorism and planned and coordinated attacks.'' Karzai did not elaborate on ''foreign factors'' but Afghan officials have repeatedly accused neighbouring Pakistan of not doing enough to rein in Taliban and al Qaeda militants who they say launch attacks from the Pakistani side of the border.

Karzai also complained about what he called, a lack of full cooperation from the international community to root out insurgency outside Afghanistan.

He spoke of stopping terrorism in a strategic way.

''That means the world should go where terrorism is nourished, where it is provided money and ideology ... this war of terrorism should not be limited to Afghanistan.'' Asked whether US-led forces had adopted a wrong approach in Afghanistan, Karzai said he had argued for a ''thorough look'' at how to proceed with the war against terrorism.

He said he had urged the international community to provide more help in training and equipping the Afghan army and police.

Karzai has been leading Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban but his writ does not go much beyond major cities.

He said he discussed growing insecurity in Afghanistan with the leaders of neighbouring countries, including Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, at a regional summit in the Chinese city of Shanghai this week.

Islamist guerrillas are mostly active in eastern and southern regions, bordering Pakistan, where they enjoy considerable support from the Pashtun tribes living on both sides of the long, porous border.

Pakistan, which battles the insurgents along its border areas with Afghanistan, has denied helping the militants and urged Afghans to do more to stem violence on their side of the border.

Reuters PR GC1726