Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon called for a bigger international effort, including more economic and military aid, to combat Taliban insurgents based in Pakistan's largely lawless tribal border areas.
"We must arm the Pakistani army with the skills and means to conduct counter-insurgency campaigns and civil operations," Fitzgibbon said in a speech, warning Pakistan must not become a breeding ground for al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah militants.
Fitzgibbon said this month he was "pessimistic" about the security situation in Afghanistan, where Australia has 1,080 troops. He said Pakistan must be secured for the U.S. and NATO-led war effort against Afghanistan insurgents to succeed.
"Despite their best efforts, and their heavy losses ..., they are making only limited headway in dealing with the lawlessness in that particular region," he told the National Press Club.
Republished permission of FOCUS Information Agency
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