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Musharraf, Karzai exchanged hot words?

Washington: U.S. President George Bush had to intervene when his Pakistan and Afghanistan counterparts — Pervez Musharraf and Hamid Karzai — clashed at the dinner table on Thursday evening in Washington. The occasion was the Iftar party hosted by Mr. Bush for the two leaders.

``During the dinner meeting with Bush, Musharraf and Karzai first hit out at each other, then came to exchanging hot words at which President Bush had to intervene,'' reported The Nation.

The paper said Mr. Karzai accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban which, according to him, was creating difficulties in maintaining peace in Afghanistan.

Osama's presence

He also alleged that Osama and Mullah Omar were in Pakistan but Gen. Musharraf was doing nothing about them. This enraged Gen. Musharraf and he compared Mr. Karzai to an ostrich adding that he had nothing else to do but to level charges.

"His Government has failed completely and he [Karzai] is unaware of the facts.'' Gen. Musharraf is learnt to have also said Pakistan had always favoured peace in Afghanistan because ``the state of anarchy there was exercising bad effects on Pakistan.''

He added that Mr. Karzai lacked both in the power of decision and courage, added the paper.

Mr. Karzai responded that the Islamic schools (madrasas) in Pakistan were teaching extremism and hatred and Gen. Musharraf government was not in a position to do anything in this regard, though it was aware of it. — ANI

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