Russia's call to Pak.

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, MAY 30.A senior Russian security official has called on the international community to make Pakistan stop meddling in Afghanistan and give up support for the Taliban regime.

The Itar-Tass news agency quoted Mr. Vladimir Rushailo, Secretary of the Security Council, as saying that the international community should put pressure on Islamabad to make it ``stop interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs and cease material, financial and political support for the Taliban, which sponsors terrorist organisations''.

Mr. Rushailo was speaking at an all-Russia conference on national security problems. This is the first time a senior Kremlin official has publicly accused the Pakistani ruling establishment of propping up the Taliban regime. Until now, Moscow accused ``certain quarters in Pakistan'' of giving such support. According to Itar-Tass, the Russian security chief said the post- Soviet Collective Security Treaty should play an important part in efforts to get Pakistan to renounce support for the Taliban.

``Terrorism in its various manifestations is one of the main threats to this country's national security,'' Mr. Rushailo said. Earlier this month, the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty member-States decided to set up a rapid reaction force in Central Asia to fight the threat of Islamic violence spreading from Afghanistan.

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Section  : International
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