Karzai wants Pak, US "to do more" on insurgent sanctuaries

Washington, Nov 15(ANI): Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said that he wants the Pakistan government and the United States "to do more" on the insurgent sanctuaries in Pakistan.

When asked what should be done by the United States to address the sanctuaries in Pakistan, Karzai said: "Sanctuaries (are) a problem. A serious problem. For Afghanistan, now also for Pakistan. I just hope that Afghanistan, the United States and Pakistan together will do all that we can together to address the problem."

"On the one hand, I sympathize with them and want to be closer to them and work together to address it. On the other hand, I'd like to ask them to do more on the sanctuaries and for the United States to pay closer attention to this problem," the Nation quoted Karzai, as having told the Washington Post.

"Peace in Afghanistan will not come unless we address the question of sanctuaries and unless Afghanistan and Pakistan are on the best of terms as friends and neighbours and brothers, with America, present with us and among us," he added.

The Afghan President further said that he does not support the drone attacks being carried out by the US forces in Pakistan.

When asked about his views on the drone attacks being carried out in Pakistan, Karzai said: "My nature is not one that appreciates military."

"I'm not a pro-gun person, I don't like guns or airplanes, so I can never talk in favourable terms about planes that are shooting people or bombing people, so you'll have to ask a more hardcore fellow, I'm a soft-core fellow," he added. (ANI)