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None of Afghanistan's multi-ethnic community of Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks and Pashtuns should be under-represented in its power structure, Musharraf warned, a slap at Karzai's support for regional warlords and armed leaders accused of ignoring needs of ordinary Afghans.In Washington yesterday, Karzai responded he was not oblivious to the problems of terrorism, and turned his sights on Pakistan, which he earlier accused of creating violence in extremist madrassas.
"We know our problems," he told a news conference with President George W. Bush. "But Afghanistan also knows where the problem is — in extremism. In madrassas preaching hatred. That's what we should do together to stop."
Pakistan's borders are also populated by 3 million Pashtun tribesmen, Musharraf told his council audience. "They are not Taliban" but could join extremist forces if treated as foes.
Musharraf has launched ground and air attacks on border areas to combat Taliban forces fleeing Afghanistan but has been criticized for a recent change of tactic, a peace deal with tribes in North Waziristan, a semi-autonomous region.
"We must separate the people from the Taliban," he said, insisting the peace deal was not made with Taliban members, and would do more to create anti-Taliban sentiments than continued army attacks.
Though critical, Musharraf also said, "I have always been saying that I believe President Karzai to be the right person to be president of Afghanistan."
Karzai said he would "wait and see" if the agreement brings peace to the lawless region. "We'll back any move, any deal, that will deny terror a sanctuary in North Waziristan or in the tribal territories of Pakistan."