Thursday, 18 September 2008

Pak-Afghan border security must be bolstered: Nato chief


All sides need to help bolster security along the Pak-Afghan border, where recent US incursions have strained US-Pakistan ties, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on Thursday.

Speaking as Nato defence ministers gathered for informal talks, he underlined the need for closer contacts between Nato and the Pakistani government, angered by the US military action.

"Clearly, it is up to Pakistan to define its own security interests," he said in an address at the think tank shortly before the start of the two-day Nato talks in London.

"We all need to do a better job together of monitoring and controlling the border, and we need to intensify the work of our so-called tri-partite commission," he added, referring to representatives from the two countries and Nato.

De Hoop Scheffer added: "Success in Afghanistan also means stepping up our political engagement with her neighbours, notably Pakistan."

"We need to establish a permanent dialogue between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the international community."

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