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Musharraf Pledges Full Support for Karzai

VOA News
2 Apr 2002 15:49 UTC
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Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has pledged full support for the interim Afghan administration of Hamid Karzai. 

During his first visit to post-Taleban Afghanistan, General Musharraf said he and Mr. Karzai also promised their governments will not interfere in each other's affairs. 

At a news conference in Kabul Tuesday, the Pakistani president said the two leaders will step up the fight against terrorism and the illegal drug trade. 

Meanwhile, in the Pakistan capital, a coalition of six hardline Islamic political parties are demanding General Musharraf order U.S. troops to leave the country. 

A coalition spokesman, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, alleged the presence of U.S. forces in Pakistan undermines Pakistani sovereignty and threatens the country's religion and culture. 

General Musharraf has allowed U.S. forces to use bases in Pakistan as part of the U.S.-led campaign against Afghanistan's Taliban and al-Qaida terrorist network. 

The coalition spokesman also announced nationwide rallies Friday and Sunday to show solidarity with Palestinians under siege by Israeli forces in the West Bank. 

Hardline Islamic parties in Pakistan have sought to build opposition to President Musharraf since the general ended Pakistan's long-time support for Afghanistan's former Taleban rulers after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. 

Today's one-day Afghan visit was not announced until General Musharraf had left Pakistan, apparently for security reasons. 

Mr. Karzai visited Pakistan in February, and the two leaders agreed to work to develop warm relations between the neighboring countries. 

Some information for this report provided by ap.

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