Afghanistan urged Pakistan on Tuesday to clamp down on militants hiding on its side of the border, a day after Kabul said it had arrested three Pakistanis for plotting to assassinate the US ambassador. "There are elements on Pakistani soil who train terrorist elements, equip them and send them to Afghanistan. They should be prevented at any cost. As long as they exist, terrorism and insecurity will continue," said President Hamid Karzai's spokesman Jawed Ludin.
Ludin said key leaders of the Taleban militia were sheltering in Pakistan. He questioned how a Pakistani private television channel had broadcast an interview with a Taleban leader last week, alleging that Osama bin Laden was alive, without the knowledge of the government.
"The leaders of the Taleban regime, especially those who are notorious for manslaughter and terrorism, they are now in Pakistan," Ludin added.
The spokesman said progress had been made in the fight against "terrorism" between Afghanistan and Pakistan but more needed to be done
"Afghanistan of course is suffering (from terrorism). Our people are dying and our schools are getting burned, our mosques are getting blown up, our clergy, our mullahs are getting assassinated," said Ludin, adding that the problems were worst in areas which bordered Pakistan.