Rice Seeks to Bridge Divide Between Musharraf and Karzai

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 28, 2006 — -- In back-to-back visits to President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan this week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has sought to defuse a war of words between the two leaders that's become almost as vicious as the fighting along their joint border.

As a resurgent Taliban wreaks havoc across southern Afghanistan this spring, Karzai has accused Islamabad of doing little to stop the insurgents, who often mount their attacks from Pakistani soil.

Musharraf has called Karzai's accusations "humbug and nonsense," and has repeatedly challenged Afghan officials in Kabul to provide evidence there are Taliban and al Qaeda hideouts inside Pakistan.

So far, more than 1,100 have died this year in battles between the insurgents and the U.S.-led coalition within Afghanistan.

Pakistan has 80,000 troops stationed along the border and has lost more than 650 soldiers since 2001.

After meeting with Musharraf and Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri on Tuesday, Rice said the Pakistani president and Karzai were both important leaders in the ongoing war on terrorism.

She encouraged both leaders on Tuesday and again today to find a way to go forward and increase cooperation.

"Our view is that we have two good friends and two fierce fighters in the war on terror," Rice said.

She also wanted to bolster Karzai, who has been under fire in the Afghan parliament and the media for the Taliban resurgence, the booming opium trade, and the slow pace of infrastructure development.

"This is an extraordinary leader and we're going to back him, and back him fully," Rice said. "And when he has problems, we're going to sit with him and we're going to find ways to resolve those problems."

There are approximately 25,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. More than 3,000 are expected to leave the country this year, as the U.S.-led coalition turns over control in some areas to NATO forces.