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No role in attacks: Musharraf

Confirms militant movement into Afghanistan

KABUL: President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday acknowledged that Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants were crossing from Pakistan to launch attacks inside Afghanistan, but denied Pakistan's powerful military intelligence agency was helping them.

``You blame us for what is happening in Afghanistan,'' Gen. Musharraf said in an address to Afghan government and army officials and lawmakers at the Foreign Ministry in Kabul. ``Let me say neither the Government of Pakistan nor ISI is involved in any kind of interference inside Afghanistan.''

Gen. Musharraf's speech, also attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, came a day after the two leaders resolved to cooperate to fight the ``common enemy'' of terrorism and extremism.

Surge of violence

The meeting in Kabul came as Afghanistan — particularly in the south — faced its deadliest surge of violence since the U.S.-led invasion after the 9/11, attacks in the United States that toppled the Taliban regime for harbouring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Gen. Musharraf said Pakistan had supported the fundamentalist Taliban in the 1990s but that had changed after the Al-Qaeda attacks on America.

He said Pakistan was saddened by the accusation that it was to blame for every bomb blast and suicide attack in Afghanistan and that it was supporting terrorism inside the neighbouring country.

Gen. Musharraf acknowledged that militants were crossing from Pakistan to Afghanistan, but said it was not state-sponsored and that Pakistan was doing its best to stop it. ``There are Al-Qaeda and Taliban in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Certainly they are crossing from Pakistan side and causing bomb blasts and terrorist activities in your country,'' he said.

``We know they are doing this, but the question is this is not sponsored ... Let me give you my personal assurance that we are with you against Taliban and Al-Qaeda. ''

AP

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