Britain eyes help for Pakistan on Afghan border

ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (Reuters) Britain wants to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan to help it secure its Afghan border and stop Taliban insurgents launching attacks into Afghanistan, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said today.

Beckett said she had briefed Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on a statement in London due later today in which Britain is expected to announce an increase in its troops in Afghanistan.

''I have also taken the opportunity to recognise the steps Pakistan has taken against the Taliban to secure the border with Afghanistan and explore what further cooperation between us could strengthen those steps,'' Beckett told reporters.

US Vice President Dick Cheney was also in Pakistan today on an unannounced visit to press Musharraf to step up efforts to combat a new Taliban offensive in Afghanistan and a resurgent al Qaeda.

Last year was the bloodiest in Afghanistan since the Taliban's ouster in 2001 and there is concern this year could be as bad or worse amid a Taliban threat of a spring offensive and a jump in suicide attacks.

US commanders in Afghanistan say Taliban havens in lawless tribal areas on the Pakistani side of the border must be tackled if the insurgency is to be defeated.

Pakistan says it is doing all it can to stop militants crossing into Afghanistan and a resurgent Taliban are feeding off resentment over indiscriminate bombing, Afghan government corruption and poverty.

There are about 45,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, most in a US-led NATO force. Britain has about 5,200 troops in the NATO force.

REUTERS PB PM1624