Hamid Karzai urges Pakistan to stop violence

Afghan President Hamid Karzai accused religious circles in Pakistan Thursday of fuelling violence in his country.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai accused religious circles in Pakistan Thursday of fuelling violence in his country, including the burning of schools, and told Islamabad it must stop interfering in Afghan affairs and reach for peace.

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Speaking to tribal elders, officials and religious leaders, Karzai said the neighbouring nation should work to defeat the terrorism plaguing Afghanistan as it will also hurt Pakistan.

"We know very well that in Pakistani madrassas (Islamic schools) boys are being told to go to Afghanistan for jihad (holy war). They're being told to go and burn schools and clinics," he said in insurgency-hit eastern Kunar province.

"Our demand from Pakistan is, brother, dear neighbour, terrorism is such a fire that if today it catches me, tomorrow it will catch you."