KABUL // Gordon Brown landed in Afghanistan today to urge the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, to co-operate more closely with Pakistan against terrorism. The British prime minister arrived in Afghanistan at a time of an upsurge in violence and amid political uncertainty in neighbouring Pakistan following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is a hotbed for al Qa'eda-backed Taliban insurgents, who have stepped up their guerrilla and bombing campaign in Afghanistan this year to oust Mr Karzai's pro-Western government and drive out foreign troops.
The insurgents have been engaging foreign and government troops almost daily, taking the fight to heavily fortified bases in sometimes brazen suicide attacks or with well organised units numbering dozens of fighters. "I'll be pressing on President Karzai the need for there to be greater co-operation with the Pakistani authorities," Mr Brown said. "And we'll be pressing on the Pakistanis themselves the need for them to be involved with us in fighting terrorism and making sure the number of terrorists coming in to Pakistan from Afghanistan is limited," he added.
Britain has 8,400 troops in Afghanistan, which Mr Brown said were being "reconfigured" to include more secondments to the Afghan army and to tackle the Taliban's new guerrilla tactics. Mr Brown wouldn't be drawn on whether the absence of Mr Musharraf ? a key Western ally against terrorism ? would hinder the fight against the Taliban. He said Britain worked closely with army chief General Ashfaq Kayani.
Ten French soldiers were killed on Tuesday in an ambush by Taliban militants in a volatile area east of Kabul and Mr Brown said the British army should brace itself for more casualties. A total of 116 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since they joined the US-led invasion of the country in late 2001. "We know we've got to be prepared ? we're fighting a very difficult campaign ? for anything that may happen," Mr Brown said.
He said he did not feel Britain needed to send more troops. "I'll hear what people have to say on the ground but my own view is that other countries have got a contribution to make as well," he said, referring to members of Nato. Mr Brown, who earlier met with British troops at a base in the southern province of Helmand, also said he would stress to Mr Karzai the need to root out corruption in his administration.
* Reuters