Karzai Threatens To Invade Pakistan

Afghan President Warns Insurgents, And Pakistani Gov't, Of Retaliation Over Cross-Border Attacks

(CBS/AP)  Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatened Sunday to send Afghan troops across the border to fight militants in Pakistan, a forceful warning to insurgents and the Pakistani government that his country is fed up with cross-border attacks.

Karzai said that Afghanistan has the right to self-defense, and because militants cross over from Pakistan "to come and kill Afghan and kill coalition troops, it exactly gives us the right to do the same."

"Therefore, Baitullah Mehsud should know that we will go after him now and hit him in his house," Karzai said, referring to Pakistan's top Taliban leader suspected in last year's assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

"And the other fellow, (Taliban leader) Mullah Omar of Pakistan should know the same," Karzai continued. "This is a two-way road in this case, and Afghans are good at the two-way road journey. We will complete the journey and we will get them and we will defeat them. We will avenge all that they have done to Afghanistan for the past so many years."

Neither government officials nor a spokesman for the Taliban in Pakistan could immediately be reached for comment.

Although Karzai in the past had accused Pakistan of not doing enough to stop militants crossing the border and launching attacks against Afghan and International forces in Afghanistan, it was first time he had threatened to send troops to hunt down militants in Pakistani territory, reports CBS News' Fazul Rahim in Kabul.

Karzai's comments come just two days after a very coordinated attack on the Sarposa prison in the southern city of Kandahar, in which militants set free almost 1,000 inmates, including about 400 Taliban militants. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

After the April 27 assassination attempt on the president at a ceremony celebrating the 15th anniversary of independence from Soviet invaders (three people including a lawmaker were killed), the attack on the Kandahar prison was the biggest of its kind. It was also a huge setback for the fragile government of Karzai and the international forces who are struggling to defeat a growing insurgency in the south and east of the country bordering Pakistan.

The attack shows "on one hand shows how weak the Afghan security institutions are and on the other hand it shows that the enemy is getting stronger and using more comprehensive techniques while conducting their operations,” said Lt. Gen. Hilaluddin Hilal, former deputy minister of interior and the vice chairman of national security committee of the parliament.

In an interview with CBS News, Gen. Hilal added, “It is not in the interest of Afghanistan to send troops to another country. We do not have the capability to do so, and it would create more problems for Afghanistan and will give the militants a very good propaganda ground to recruit more insurgents.

"It is the job of NATO and American-led coalition forces to fight terrorists and militancy outside Afghanistan because they have the U.N. mandate and backing of international community," Gen. Hilal said.

This year's fighting has so far been the bloodiest, with a 60 percent increase in attacks on Afghan and International forces, according to Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior. The British forces' casualties exceed 100, and for the first time since 2003 the American forces' casualties in Afghanistan exceeded their casualties in Iraq last month. Four U.S. service members were killed and one injured when a roadside bomb hit their convoy in the western province of Farah yesterday, while several militants were killed in separate clashes with Afghan and coalition forces in Helmand and Kandahar today, U.S.-led forces said in a statement.

U.S. officials have increased their warnings in recent weeks that the Afghan conflict will drag on for years unless militant safe havens in Pakistan are taken out. Military officials say that counterinsurgency campaigns are extremely difficult to win when militants have safe areas where they can train, recruit and stockpile supplies.

Karzai said most of the fighters in recent fighting in the Garmser district of Helmand province - where hundreds of U.S. Marines have been battling insurgents the last two months - came from Pakistan.

His comments come as Pakistan is seeking peace deals with militants along its borders, including with Mehsud.

The deals have been criticized by U.S. officials, who warned they will simply give militants time to regroup and intensify attacks inside Afghanistan. But Pakistan insists it is not negotiating with "terrorists," rather militants willing to lay down their arms.

Of particular concern is whether the deals will address militant activity inside Afghanistan.

Mehsud, who is based mainly in the South Waziristan tribal area, has said he would continue to send fighters to battle U.S. forces in Afghanistan even as he seeks peace with Pakistan.

U.S. and NATO commanders said that following the peace agreements this spring, attacks have risen in the eastern area of Afghanistan along the border.


U.S. 15 Killed In Hunt For Afghan Inmates

The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan says more than 15 insurgents have been killed by Afghan army and coalition forces in the southern province of Kandahar.

The deaths came during a search for escaped prisoners.

The U.S. says it has not been confirmed that any of the 15 were escaped prisoners. Five militants were also taken into custody during the Saturday operation.

Afghan officials say that 870 prisoners escaped from the Kandahar prison during a coordinated assault on the facility by dozens of Taliban militants late Friday.

[beehive21-2009]

he''s a lot of hot air.

[fixhist]

As Mr.Karzai is serious in threatening To Invade Pakistan. He has a lot of Patriotic support as well.

May we ask our Prime Minister to withdraw Canadian combat forces now.
Regarding commitment to Afghan compact, CIDA will take care of that through some gentleman like Late Mr. Khadr, and young Omar khadr will have no problem working in Afghanistan as an aid/assistant.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Time to take them all out."

Posted by jsklinemn

Like, for a soda?

[feelfree4u]

Re: "I say we turn the entire middle east into a sheet of glass, erect an Exxon sign and another Disney World."

Posted by maxify55

Is this what your "God" and your buybull are suggesting?

[ozonmojo]

Joke of the century!!! The guy can''t step out of his bedrooma without a battalion of bodyguards and he wants ti invade other counties.This is typical Islamic bravado we often hear from the likes of Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists who seek to terrorize with their rhetoric too.

[jsklinemn]

This issue will now finally begin to expand. It''s been well known for some time that Pakistan is playing both sides of the fences, and only now is getting caught with the hands in the cookie jar. We''ve had dialogs with Pakistan for many years, but since 2001, I believe they''ve play''ed us all this time, and Afghanistan as well.

So now the next possible issue since there are Nukes in Pakistan, is escalation of differences. Where Pakistan really does believe in Sharia law, and feels that everyone else, much like Al-Quida, that ALL should be controlled by Sharia law.

Time to take them all out.

[singingrick]

I wonder why Bush and his rubber-stampers allowed Bin Laden, Al Qaeda and the Taliban to move to Pakistan and set up shop.

[leftyintexas]

George Bush gives $6 Billion a year to Pakistan so they can make nice with Treaties to provide a Safe Haven for Al Queda and the Taliban. You must also recall he let Osama out of Tora Bora so that our Troops could go to Iraq.

Posted by bdaman4you at 04:55 PM : Jun 15, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You sure have an anal view of the world, A$$HOLE!!

Posted by scotch41 at 06:13 PM : Jun 15, 2008

scotch41.... bdaman4you got the facts right. What part of it didn''t you get? It appears you are the a$$hole.

[nor-one]

Stop blaming exxon-mobile! Karzi never worked for them, he worked for Unocal! He still does. Unocal and the Carlyle group (Daddy Bush''s crew). These are the same people who built the pipeline for the Burma government.(Military Junta)Karzi isn''t exactly in a position to attack anybody. Unless he can round up a bunch of oil executives and their sons to do it for him. Oh ya, thats right the bushs don''t swing that way.

[fixhist]

"Afghan officials say that 870 prisoners escaped from the Kandahar prison during a coordinated assault on the facility by dozens of Taliban militants late Friday."

When there is no law,no justice & no human rights.
Escape is one of the best options to secure personal freedom, right to honour & right to survive.

I''m sure, Mr.Karzai & Busharraf(Evangelised Mush) will do the same if,detained by Taliban without their trial, no date for trial & no right for fair representation.

Mr. Karzai & Musharraf should get on with their daily routines of personal agenda & self projection/protection, both deserve to be on trial for war crimes in Hague.