New York, Sept 26: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said neighbouring Pakistan needs to curb Islamic extremism by stopping Muslim clerics from preaching hatred and arresting Taliban leaders. Karzai spoke today at the nonprofit council on foreign relations in New York, just two days after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf addressed the same forum. Musharraf said earlier that Pakistan was doing all it could to battle terrorism and squelch extremism in his nation.
"I want clear, visible action," Karzai said. "Afghanistan needs strong cooperation from its neighbours, especially Pakistan." Afghanistan's extremist religious movement is believed to have its roots in Pakistani religious schools, where many Taliban leaders studied.
"I would really want these places described as madrassas . . . Those preaching hatred . . . shut down, leaders of the extremist Taliban movement to be arrested and that part of the clergy in Pakistan that preaches hatred and owns these madrassas to be taken into account," Karzai said. Musharraf told the council earlier that it was attempting to expand the subjects being taught at religious schools in his country to root out extremism and give students an education that would prepare them to enter society.
"We're not out of the woods yet," the Afghan President said of Afghanistan. "Are we worried about terrorism and extremism hurting the peace process? Yes, I am worried." Bureau Report