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UNITED NATIONS, (AFP) Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued a thinly-veiled warning to Pakistan over extremist attacks from its territory as he urged a wider international military presence in Afghanistan.

In a speech before the 58th United Nations General Assembly, Karzai said the resurgence of the ousted Taliban represented a "critical threat" to the rebuilding of Afghanistan and regional security.

"We continue to extend a sincere hand of friendship to Pakistan and all other neighbours on the basis of the requirements of a civilized relationship. We will never permit our territory to be used against any other country and expect the same," the Afghan leader said.

"Governments must stop using extremism as an instrument of policy. As long as terrorism survives in this part of the world, neither Afghanistan, nor our neighbours, nor indeed the rest of the world can be safe."

Afghan officials say Taliban fighters are regrouping and organising attacks from over the border in Pakistan's Pashtun-dominated tribal areas, where anger at the Pashtuns' perceived sidelining from the Afghan government runs high. US and Afghan troops, aid workers and officials have been increasingly targeted by suspected Taliban militants, especially in southern and southeastern Afghanistan which has seen an apparent resurgence of the militia which was ousted from power by US-led forces in November 2001.

Karzai also repeated pleas for the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan to extend its mandate beyond the capital of Kabul.

The United Nations last month also warned of the need to dramatically improve security in Afghanistan ahead of a presidential vote scheduled for June 2004. The attacks are seen as part of a campaign by Taliban militants to destabilise President Karzai's government. Karzai said the growth of production and trafficking of narcotics in Afghanistan - which has surged since the fall of the Taliban - represented another major threat and was linked to terrorism.

"We in the region and in the international community must make the strategic decision, in the spirit of true partnership, to fight against both menaces," he said.

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