Afghan, Pakistani leaders to meet to discuss cross-border violence

Cross-border attacks and terrorism will be discussed when the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan meet in Islamabad on Wednesday, officials said.

Photo: Afghan, Pakistani leaders to meet to discuss cross-border violence

Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived Wednesday afternoon on his first visit to Pakistan since March last year when his Pakistani counterpart, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, pledged his country's commitment to fighting terrorism and rebuilding its war-ravaged neighbor.

Karzai will use his two-day trip to urge Pakistan to show the same commitment to defeat Taliban rebels based on its side of the rugged frontier as it does in fighting al-Qaida, his spokesman Khaleeq Ahmed said Tuesday.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that Afghan officials claim suspects in a series of recent suicide bombings in Afghanistan had revealed to interrogators that they were organized by the Taliban in Pakistan.

Afghan officials have repeatedly claimed the Taliban and other militant groups have training bases in Pakistan and are receiving support from that side of the border, an accusation Pakistan denies.

The issue of Pakistani civilian casualties from rockets and artillery fire originating from Afghanistan will be raised with Karzai, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said Monday.

Rockets or shells reportedly fired from Afghanistan last weekend hit a nomad family's tent in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area, killing two women and injuring at least four children, reports the AP.

I.L.