KABUL, Nov 4: Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot pressed Pakistan on Saturday to seal its border with Afghanistan what he claimed to stop the infiltration of militants and also called on Nato nations to send more troops.
Mr Bot, who is due to visit Pakistan on Sunday, has made similar appeals in previous visits to Afghanistan to meet Dutch troops, most of them based in the province of Uruzgan on the Pakistan border.
“The world community, including The Netherlands, is very serious in exerting pressure on Pakistan to (see) ... that its borders are sealed off and the ‘terrorists’ can no longer cross from Pakistan into Uruzgan, into south of your country,” Mr Bot told reporters.
Mr Bot, who was talking to reporters after meeting his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta, said he had raised the issue with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a recent visit to United States.
He said he hoped Pakistan realised the world was watching.
“Tomorrow again I will convey that message to Pakistani authorities... if Pakistan realises that the world is looking at them, then I am also sure that we can put a halt to it,” he said.
Mr Bot, who had met President Hamid Karzai for talks earlier on Saturday, said he would also urge Nato member countries at their November 28-29 summit to send more troops to Afghanistan.
Commanders of Nato’s International Security Assistance Force have said they are stretched in their fight against the resurgent militants and need more manpower and equipment to fight a stronger than expected campaign.
“The Netherlands will raise the issue because we feel that more Nato members should commit themselves not only on paper, but they should also commit themselves by sending more troops to sensitive and difficult areas,” he added.—AFP
