Cheney seeks security boost in Afghanistan, Pakistan

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Feb 26 (Reuters) US Vice President Dick Cheney made surprise visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan today to discuss a planned spring offensive against the Taliban after the most violent year since the hard-line group was ousted in 2001.

Cheney pressed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to step up efforts to combat the resurgent Taliban and al Qaeda.

''He asked President Musharraf that Pakistan should do more,'' a Pakistani official said after the meeting between Cheney and Musharraf at the presidential palace.

Cheney arrived in the Pakistan capital from Oman, and after a one-on-one lunch with Musharraf he flew to Bagram airbase in Afghanistan. He was due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai later in the day.

''Cheney expressed US apprehensions of regrouping of al Qaeda in the tribal areas and called for concerted efforts in countering the threat,'' the Pakistani president's office said in a statement.

''He expressed serious US concerns on the intelligence being picked up of an impending Taliban and al Qaeda spring offensive against allied forces in Afghanistan,'' it said.

Cheney's visit to Islamabad coincided with one by Margaret Beckett, Britain's foreign secretary. Beckett also held talks with Musharraf today morning.

The United States is bolstering its troop presence in Afghanistan by 3,200 to help repel fierce spring fighting anticipated after the bloodiest year there since the Taliban were ousted by US-led forces in 2001.

The harsh Afghan winters usually lead to a temporary lull in fighting but the violence is expected to increase again soon with the arrival of warm weather.

TOUGH MESSAGE The New York Times reported on Monday that President George W Bush had decided to send an unusually tough message to Musharraf, warning him that the newly elected Democratic US Congress could cut aid unless his forces became more aggressive in hunting down al Qaeda operatives.

Pakistan has been fighting Islamist guerrillas based in its tribal lands, but while hundreds of al Qaeda fighters have been arrested and handed over to the United States, barely any Taliban leaders have been caught.

Musharraf says Taliban fighters do operate from Pakistan, but says the militants' leaders are in Afghanistan, and most Taliban activity orginates there.

A statement released by Musharraf's office said Pakistani, Afghan, U.S. and NATO forces should have joint responsibility for securing the border.

Musharraf has warned that the conflict could deteriorate into a ''people's war'' unless President Karzai's government in Kabul does more to win over alienated ethnic Pashtuns living in the region.

The United States has about 27,000 troops in Afghanistan, of which about 15,000 are in the NATO force and the rest on missions ranging from counter-terrorism to training.

Cheney's stop was added to an Asia trip during which he visited Japan and Australia, two staunch US allies that have lent their support in Afghanistan and in the increasingly unpopular Iraq war.

Under Musharraf, Pakistan became a key ally in Washington's war on terror after the Sept. 11 attacks by withdrawing its support for the Taliban government, sharing intelligence with US officials and rounding up suspected Islamic militants.

REUTERS SAM PM1941