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| Karzai denies tensions with West | Karzai denies tensions with West |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President Hamid Karzai has played down tensions over the role of foreign countries operating in Afghanistan. | President Hamid Karzai has played down tensions over the role of foreign countries operating in Afghanistan. |
| Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Mr Karzai expressed gratitude to Nato members that had contributed troops. | Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Mr Karzai expressed gratitude to Nato members that had contributed troops. |
| At his side, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted progress was being made fighting insurgents but admitted the work was "not complete". | At his side, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted progress was being made fighting insurgents but admitted the work was "not complete". |
| Her surprise visit, with the UK foreign minister, comes amid differences in Nato over the mission in Afghanistan. | Her surprise visit, with the UK foreign minister, comes amid differences in Nato over the mission in Afghanistan. |
| The US and UK have been urging other countries to share more of the combat burden in the south of the country. | The US and UK have been urging other countries to share more of the combat burden in the south of the country. |
| Map of main troop deployments | Map of main troop deployments |
| Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned that the failure of the alliance could result in terror attacks in Western countries. | Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned that the failure of the alliance could result in terror attacks in Western countries. |
| He was speaking ahead of a Nato defence ministers' meeting in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. | He was speaking ahead of a Nato defence ministers' meeting in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. |
| 'Misquoted' | 'Misquoted' |
| Relations between the Afghan government and Nato allies had been strained by Mr Karzai's assertion that despite British efforts, the situation had worsened in southern Helmand province where most UK forces are based. | Relations between the Afghan government and Nato allies had been strained by Mr Karzai's assertion that despite British efforts, the situation had worsened in southern Helmand province where most UK forces are based. |
| If terrorism is not dealt with in Afghanistan, the consequences will be felt not just in Afghanistan and the region, but also in London, Brussels and Amsterdam Jaap de Hoop SchefferNato Secretary General href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7228649.stm">Q&A: Isaf troops class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7232011.stm">World effort under threat class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7231083.stm">UK-Afghan ties hit a low | |
| Mr Karzai also recently blocked the appointment of the UK's Paddy Ashdown as a UN envoy. | Mr Karzai also recently blocked the appointment of the UK's Paddy Ashdown as a UN envoy. |
| But speaking at the news conference with Ms Rice and the UK's Foreign Minister David Miliband, Mr Karzai played down his criticism. | But speaking at the news conference with Ms Rice and the UK's Foreign Minister David Miliband, Mr Karzai played down his criticism. |
| He said it was a "personal matter of sadness" that the appointment of Lord Ashdown "did not work out". | He said it was a "personal matter of sadness" that the appointment of Lord Ashdown "did not work out". |
| He said his remarks about the situation in Helmand province had been "misquoted", adding: "We appreciate the British role in Afghanistan and the contribution they have made." | He said his remarks about the situation in Helmand province had been "misquoted", adding: "We appreciate the British role in Afghanistan and the contribution they have made." |
| Afghanistan "hasn't been forgotten" by the international community, he said. | Afghanistan "hasn't been forgotten" by the international community, he said. |
| 'Terror threat' | 'Terror threat' |
| Correspondents say Mr Karzai's remarks accorded with the display of unity by all three participants at the conference, with neither Ms Rice nor Mr Miliband making explicit reference to the current differences in Nato over troop commitments to the country. | Correspondents say Mr Karzai's remarks accorded with the display of unity by all three participants at the conference, with neither Ms Rice nor Mr Miliband making explicit reference to the current differences in Nato over troop commitments to the country. |
| But earlier, Mr de Hoop Scheffer said he would be spelling out to the Nato ministers that member nations must do more to train and equip the Afghan army. | But earlier, Mr de Hoop Scheffer said he would be spelling out to the Nato ministers that member nations must do more to train and equip the Afghan army. |
| Nato's mission in the country was one of necessity, not choice, he added. | Nato's mission in the country was one of necessity, not choice, he added. |
| "This is the front line in the fight against terrorism, and what is happening in the Hindu Kush matters, because if terrorism is not dealt with in Afghanistan, the consequences will be felt not just in Afghanistan and the region, but also in London, Brussels and Amsterdam," he told the BBC. | "This is the front line in the fight against terrorism, and what is happening in the Hindu Kush matters, because if terrorism is not dealt with in Afghanistan, the consequences will be felt not just in Afghanistan and the region, but also in London, Brussels and Amsterdam," he told the BBC. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The faster we send more troops to clear this mess up, the faster a tactical withdrawal can take place Ben Lowen, Halifax, UK Send us your comments | |
| Speaking earlier to frontline forces in Kandahar, Ms Rice echoed the theme, saying their fight was necessary to prevent "the attacks against our cities and against our people that originated here". | Speaking earlier to frontline forces in Kandahar, Ms Rice echoed the theme, saying their fight was necessary to prevent "the attacks against our cities and against our people that originated here". |
| Despite the recent squabbles over burden-sharing in Afghanistan, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Vilnius, it is unlikely, however, that more combat troops will be offered at the two-day Lithuanian meeting. | Despite the recent squabbles over burden-sharing in Afghanistan, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Vilnius, it is unlikely, however, that more combat troops will be offered at the two-day Lithuanian meeting. |
| But officials are hoping it will pave the way for further contributions to be made at Nato's summit in Bucharest in April, she says. | But officials are hoping it will pave the way for further contributions to be made at Nato's summit in Bucharest in April, she says. |
| Nato split | Nato split |
| Most of the fighting in the volatile southern provinces is being done by troops from the US, UK, Canada and the Netherlands. | Most of the fighting in the volatile southern provinces is being done by troops from the US, UK, Canada and the Netherlands. |
| Many US allies, including Germany, France, Spain, Turkey and Italy, have refused to send significant numbers of combat forces there. | Many US allies, including Germany, France, Spain, Turkey and Italy, have refused to send significant numbers of combat forces there. |
| Earlier, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Nato's future was at risk due to the refusal of some members to participate in the alliance's mission. | Earlier, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Nato's future was at risk due to the refusal of some members to participate in the alliance's mission. |
| On Tuesday, a London-based think-tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), warned that Afghanistan faced becoming a "failed state" if operations by Nato were unsuccessful. | On Tuesday, a London-based think-tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), warned that Afghanistan faced becoming a "failed state" if operations by Nato were unsuccessful. |
| The IISS report echoed the tone of a number of other studies in the last week, including one from the influential US-based Afghanistan Study Group. | The IISS report echoed the tone of a number of other studies in the last week, including one from the influential US-based Afghanistan Study Group. |
| ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops (6 February 2008): Australia - 1,070Canada 2,500France 1,515Germany - 3,210Italy - 2,880 Netherlands - 1,650Poland - 1,100UK - 7,800US - 15,000 Figures approximateSource: ISAF | ISAF REGIONAL COMMANDS AND RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS Countries contributing more than 1,000 troops (6 February 2008): Australia - 1,070Canada 2,500France 1,515Germany - 3,210Italy - 2,880 Netherlands - 1,650Poland - 1,100UK - 7,800US - 15,000 Figures approximateSource: ISAF |
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