The Afghan government today accused Pakistan of failing to help bring peace to the region, saying "certain circles" in its neighbour were funding an insurgency plaguing both countries.
The Islamist insurgency that has been raging in Afghanistan for more than nine years was likely to continue unless Pakistan "joined the world" to stop it, Waheed Omer, spokesperson President Hamid Karzai, said.
"The stance of the Afghan government has always been this: Pakistan can play a very effective role in bringing peace to Afghanistan, the region and Pakistan itself," he told reporters.
"But unfortunately it has not yet played that very effective role." Omer was reacting to a question about comments by US President Barack Obama who in India on Sunday said Pakistan was making progress against the "cancer" of extremism, but not quickly enough.
Omer said "certain circles" — likely to be seen as a reference to Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency which has long been accused of protecting and funding the Taliban — were whipping up and prolonging the war.
"There are some certain circles unfortunately that are not only not helping bring peace to the region but are instigating insecurity and supporting illegitimate terrorist activities," he said.
Islamabad has denied allegations that it supports the Taliban, whose leadership is based in lawless tribal area near the Afghan border.
