US-led coalition is losing Afghan war, says Zardari

Coalition forces are losing the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said in an interview published in France today.

"The international community, to which Pakistan belongs, is losing the war against the Taliban. This is above all because we have lost the battle to win hearts and minds," he said, in comments published in French by Le Monde.

Zardari told the daily that the US and NATO-led coalition forces had "underestimated the situation on the ground" in Afghanistan, Pakistan's war-torn western neighbour.

His comments came after military documents leaked to the media pointed to alleged support by Pakistani officials for the Taliban. Zardari has insisted that Pakistan is committed to fighting militants in the region.

Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan drove them from power in 2003, the Taliban have waged a fierce fight against international forces.

"I think they have no chance of regaining power, but their grip is strengthening," Zardari said of the hardline Islamist movement.

Britain's prime minister David Cameron angered Zardari by saying last week that Pakistan must not "look both ways" in secretly promoting violent extremism while pretending to seek regional stability.

Zardari vowed to tackle the allegations head on when he meets Cameron on Friday at the British leader's country retreat outside London.