Suicide bomber hits foreign troops in Afghanistan

KABUL, Dec 7 (Reuters) A suicide car bomber attacked a convoy of foreign troops in the centre of the southern Afghan city of Kandahar today, killing a civilian and wounding five more, police and witnesses said.

Troops immediately cordoned off the area. There were no casualties among the soldiers, from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

The city, in the heartland of the Taliban, has been hit by several suicide blasts in recent weeks. Yesterday, a man blew himself up outside the office of a US security firm, killing five Afghan civilians and two Americans.

The Taliban, bolstered by drugs money and safe havens in Pakistan, have fought back since being ousted by US-led troops in 2001 and this has been the bloodiest year since then.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri arrived in Kabul today for talks on tribal councils involving community leaders in both countries to stem the growing insurgency.

Kasuri met government leaders and was due to talk to the media tomorrow.

Some senior Afghan officials accuse Islamabad of continuing to support the hardline Islamist guerrillas, a charge Pakistan denies.

Much of the border passes through rugged and lawless lands and the Taliban, other militants, smugglers and drug runners cross easily.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed on tribal councils, or jirgas, of community leaders from each country to find a solution to the violence.

Afghanistan wants all tribes to take part in the councils, not just the Pashtuns from the main Pakistani border areas. The Taliban draws its support mainly from Pashtuns.

Kabul wants President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to lead the first jirga, but no time or place has been set.

Some Afghan and Pakistani leaders say elements of the Taliban must be included if there is to be any peace.

Reuters PDM GC1716