NATO on Wednesday expressed concern over a sudden surge of insurgency in eastern Afghanistan, which the alliance claims might be the results of agreements between the Pakistani government and militants on the Afghan border.
Insurgency rose by 50 percent in April this year compared to the same period last year, said NATO spokesman James Appathurai.
Extremist violent activities in that region in the month reached the highest ever levels recorded in August 2007, he said.
"There is real concern in NATO that this is at least in part due to (government) agreements that have been struck with militants on the other side of the border which are not being sufficiently effective in stopping cross-border activity and which may be leading to higher level of extremist and militant activity inside Afghanistan," the spokesman told reporters.
He said the agreements might have allowed militants in Afghanistan to cross the border and set up safe havens where they can rest and regroup.
He said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will travel to Pakistan soon for talks with the Pakistani authorities.
NATO is leading a 47,000-strong international force in Afghanistan to provide security in the war-torn country.
Source:Xinhua
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