Pakistani troops on Afghan border increased to 90,000

[HAIDER]

ISLAMABAD, May 8(AP) - Pakistan has increased the number of its troops deployed along the Afghan border to 90,000 , foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri said Tuesday. He announced the increase after talks with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the intensifying violence in Afghanistan. De Hoop Scheffer insisted the alliance would prevail. Kasuri also said Pakistan had increased the number of military posts along the frontier from 100 to 110, and challenged Afghanistan to show the same resolve to close the frontier. “This is the level of Pakistan's commitment,” Kasuri said at a news conference. “We expect matching response from Afghanistan, as each side must play its due role to combat the menace of terrorism.” He provided no details of when the troop increase occurred or where exactly the troops were deployed. De Hoop Scheffer, who was accompanied by NATO's supreme commander, Gen. John Craddock, said after talks with Musharraf and Kasuri that Pakistan was playing “an all-important role” to counter the militants. He acknowledged that “spoilers are making our life a bit difficult from time to time” _ 47 foreign troops have died in Afghanistan so far this year. However, he insisted NATO's 36,000-strong force would prevail. Both Kasuri and de Hoop Scheffer stressed the importance of reconstruction and development over military operations in eventually stabilizing Afghanistan. Kasuri said Pakistan also wanted to see more “political input” into finding a settlement. He didn't elaborate, but Pakistani officials have complained repeatedly that Pashtuns, the ethnic group who live on both sides of the border and from whom the Taliban draw their main strength, are underrepresented in Karzai's government. De Hoop Scheffer said NATO would “applaud anything which could contribute to stability and security” in Afghanistan, but said the alliance had no role in seeking any political agreement. (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
http://dawn.com/2007/05/08/welcome.htm