Al-Qaeda 'uses Pakistan as a base'

Zaffar Abbas
BBC News, Kabul

The US ambassador to Afghanistan says al-Qaeda and remnants of the Taleban are using Pakistan as a sanctuary and trying to return Afghanistan.

Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad's comments came as US and Afghan forces said they had arrested 14 suspected Taleban in the southern province of Zabol.

He said anti-government forces were active is some parts of the country.

Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of not doing enough to eliminate militants - a charge Islamabad denies.

Khalilzad did not directly accuse Pakistan

The ambassador did not directly accuse Islamabad of assisting al-Qaeda and the Taleban in their armed incursions inside Afghanistan, but said these militants have their sanctuary inside Pakistan.

While lending support to Afghan accusations, the American ambassador said the Taleban and their supporters were trying to return the country to the days of extremism and intolerance.

He said the United States was working closely with the Afghan government to eliminate such militants.

Mr Khalilzad accused Osama bin Laden and Taleban leader Mullah Omar of plotting to kill Afghans and the Americans within and outside the country, and said such people must be brought to justice.

But the American envoy also criticised some of the Afghan politicians and tribal leaders who, he said, had continued to act like warlords.

Mr Khalilzad said there was a need to disarm the Afghan society completely and build national institutions, such as the Afghan national army, so that Kabul can exercise authority all over the country.

Until that happens, he said, the United States would continue to help and assist the Afghan government in all possible ways.