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Pakistan warns US on Afghan plan | Pakistan warns US on Afghan plan |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pakistan has warned the US that sending more soldiers to Afghanistan could endanger its southwest border region. | Pakistan has warned the US that sending more soldiers to Afghanistan could endanger its southwest border region. |
President Barack Obama is expected next week to order more than 30,000 extra US soldiers into Helmand province, to battle Taliban insurgents. | President Barack Obama is expected next week to order more than 30,000 extra US soldiers into Helmand province, to battle Taliban insurgents. |
But Pakistan prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani fears this would force militants over the border into Balochistan. | But Pakistan prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani fears this would force militants over the border into Balochistan. |
"We want a stable Afghanistan. At the same time we don't want our country to be destabilised," said Mr Gilani. | "We want a stable Afghanistan. At the same time we don't want our country to be destabilised," said Mr Gilani. |
Exit strategy | Exit strategy |
"This is the concern that we already discussed with the US administration - that the influx of militants towards Baluchistan should be taken care of, otherwise that can destabilise Balochistan." | "This is the concern that we already discussed with the US administration - that the influx of militants towards Baluchistan should be taken care of, otherwise that can destabilise Balochistan." |
We have asked US to consult us in case of any paradigm shift in the policy Yusuf Raza Gilani, | We have asked US to consult us in case of any paradigm shift in the policy Yusuf Raza Gilani, |
Prime minister, Pakistan | Prime minister, Pakistan |
Security in Pakistan has been deteriorating ever since coalition forces entered Afghanistan eight years ago. | Security in Pakistan has been deteriorating ever since coalition forces entered Afghanistan eight years ago. |
In Balochistan, which borders both Iran and Afghanistan, hundreds of people have died in attacks by both separatist insurgents and Taliban fighters. | In Balochistan, which borders both Iran and Afghanistan, hundreds of people have died in attacks by both separatist insurgents and Taliban fighters. |
In wider Pakistan, suicide attacks and bombings have killed more than 2,550 people in the last 29 months. | In wider Pakistan, suicide attacks and bombings have killed more than 2,550 people in the last 29 months. |
President Obama is due to unveil his new Afghanistan policy next week, after weeks of deliberations. | President Obama is due to unveil his new Afghanistan policy next week, after weeks of deliberations. |
He is expected to lay out an exit strategy for withdrawing forces. | He is expected to lay out an exit strategy for withdrawing forces. |
Mr Gilani said Pakistan should be consulted on any shift in America's Afghan policy, because it would be directly affected by it. | Mr Gilani said Pakistan should be consulted on any shift in America's Afghan policy, because it would be directly affected by it. |
He would not say if Pakistan had been consulted on the expected troop surge. | He would not say if Pakistan had been consulted on the expected troop surge. |
"We have asked US administration to consult us in case of any paradigm shift in the policy... so that we can formulate our strategy accordingly," the prime minister said. | "We have asked US administration to consult us in case of any paradigm shift in the policy... so that we can formulate our strategy accordingly," the prime minister said. |
Domestic approval | |
Correspondents say it is unlikely that Mr Gilani seriously believes he can influence US strategy in Afghanistan. He is more likely trying to win domestic favour. | |
Many Pakistanis are angry with their government's perceived support for the US military presence in Afghanistan. | |
Some blame the US for the suicide bombings by insurgents who have been "driven out" of Afghanistan and over the border into Pakistan. | |
Mr Gilani may simply be seeking to distance himself from the US announcement next week on how many new soldiers it will deploy. |
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