May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

KABUL, May 22: The UN peacekeeping chief said on Thursday the world body would “watch closely” a peace deal between Pakistani government and militants in Swat.

Speaking during a visit to Afghanistan, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno said the two countries must work together to tackle militancy and extremism.

Asked about the deal in Swat Valley, about 90km from the Afghan border, Guehenno said it could “only be judged on the impact it has on security”.

“Certainly any cross-border movement is bad, is dangerous,” he told reporters. “We will watch closely the situation in the area concerned and make sure that the situation does not deteriorate on the other side of the border.”

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that “any exclusive deal with the Taliban would result in worsening of the situation” in terms of cross-border attacks by Pakistan-based militants. Guehenno said the stability of the two countries was linked.

“The two countries have vital interests in moving together, in addressing the problems that affect them both ...,” he said.

However, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in September that he was ready to hold talks with the Taliban in his country in an effort to end their insurgency.—AFP