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Bush endorses Karzai’s threat to Pakistan

LONDON: In remarks that will infuriate Islamabad, U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday endorsed Afghanistan’s “right” to act in self-defence against extremists operating from “safe-havens” in Pakistan.

Mr. Bush, who is on a visit to Britain, was commenting on Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s threat to send troops into Pakistan to hunt down terrorists.

At a press conference after meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mr. Bush said no country could allow extremists to come and kill innocent people and retreat into their safe havens.

“If people are coming from one country to kill innocent people, they [Afghanistan government] will be concerned,” he said adding that American policy was to “deny safe havens” to extremists.

Mr. Bush, whose two-day visit has been marred by protests, hinted at tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme saying the international community should send a “focused message” to Tehran.

Anti-war protesters, waving placards that said “Bush Terrorist No. 1” and “Arrest George Bush”, clashed with police after they were prevented from delivering a petition to Downing Street denouncing his policies.

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