French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Sunday that Taliban violence in Afghanistan could only be stopped with the aid of Pakistan, where 'rebels' operate in lawless border areas.
Kouchner made his comments during a joint visit to the Nato air base in southern Kandahar with his Canadian counterpart Maxime Bernier. Both countries have troops deployed in the volatile area to help Kabul fight Taliban rebels.
"Further military means are needed in order for the process of securing Afghanistan to proceed... but there must also be a regional view, particularly with regards to neighbouring Pakistan," Kouchner told AFP. He said he had on Saturday discussed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai efforts to step up security along the common border, which is 2,500 kilometres (1,550 miles) long, runs through difficult terrain and is difficult to patrol.
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