Kabul accuses Pakistan of using terror as tool

BRUSSELS, Jan 26 (Reuters) Afghanistan's foreign minister accused Pakistan today of using terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy and said the Taliban could be beaten in two or three years if Islamabad cooperated fully against them.

Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told Reuters his country needed more money to fight terrorism, improve government and bring better lives for the people.

Speaking on the margins of talks among NATO foreign ministers, he said Pakistan, although officially an ally in the US-led war on terrorism, should do more to contain the Taliban.

''Pakistan doesn't do enough,'' he said in an interview.

''Pakistan is from our point of view part of the problem -- they have to stop interference ... in Afghanistan.

''They have to stop using terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy and I think it is high time the international community began to tell Pakistan to stop.'' He accused ''some circles'' in Pakistan of being behind this policy, but declined to identify them. ''They don't accept to have Afghanistan with national sovereignty, territorial integrity, as an equal partner in this region.'' His comments came as NATO, whose 32,000 peacekeepers in Afghanistan are at the sharp end of the fight against the Taliban, is trying to improve ties with Islamabad. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is to visit alliance headquarters next week.

Afghanistan released a video last week in which captured Taliban spokesman Mohammad Hanif said Taliban leader Mullah Omar was living in the Pakistani city of Quetta, protected by Pakistani military intelligence. Pakistan denies this.

Spanta said the Taliban threat could be stamped out if Pakistan cooperated more in stopping cross-border incursions, and if more international funds were available.

''If we bring all the necessary efforts together, if Pakistan cooperated in this process, I think the problem of the Taliban we can lose within two to three years,'' he said.

BIN LADEN ''NOT IN AFGHANISTAN'' Spanta said he had no idea of the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader blamed for the September 11, 2001 on the United States, who was harboured by the Taliban.

''If I knew I would catch him and receive more than 25 million dollars,'' he joked, referring to Washington's reward for bin Laden.

''But ... I know he is not in Afghanistan.'' US officials have long said they believe bin Laden is hiding in the rugged Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.

Pakistani leaders denied this week he was in Pakistan and have repeatedly said they are doing all they can to assist the fight against the Taliban, including stationing 30,000 troops on the border to stem infiltration.

At the NATO meeting, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice threw down the gauntlet to allies to do more in Afghanistan by pledging extra US troops and aid to help see off an expected Taliban offensive.

She announced the Bush administration would ask Congress for 8.6 billion dollar in new money to train and equip the Afghan army and police, and 2 billion dollar for reconstruction. US officials made it clear they wanted allies to follow suit.

Spanta said developments in Afghanistan has been ''generally very positive'' since 2001, thanks to the assistance of the international comnmunity. But he said more help was needed.

''Project Afghanistan is not yet completed,'' he said. ''We need more efforts. We have to develop one comprehensive strategy in the process of the anti-terror war.

''I mean a strategy with development elements, the supporting of Afghan government institutions ... and also to demonstrate the determination of the international community.'' Reuters SSC GC1730