Karzai's rhetoric is ill-advised

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai may have been following instructions to raise his game after receiving close to $20 billion by world donors in Paris last week but his initial salvo of political rhetoric - perhaps influenced by a few backers - has been ill advised.

Karzai's veiled threat that Afghan troops may even enter Pakistani territory in a bid to chase down, as well as flush out, militants has not been well received by the authorities in Islamabad, forcing an equally harsh reaction.

It has been an inadequate attempt at diplomacy by Karzai - once accepted as his country's only hope (though that may be true) - even as he is under pressure to set right a weak government, address corruption, blunt a thriving drug trade and tackle the twin menace of the Taliban and Al Qaida.

Establishing constructive relations with Pakistan's newly elected government should be his priority if Karzai is keen on running in Afghanistan's presidential election next year.

Though the political scenario does not offer the presence of a worthwhile candidate at this moment Karzai can least afford to rekindle animosity with his neighbours, thereby heightening fresh tensions at home.

Even as Kabul is unlikely to follow through on Karzai's threat, the act itself could mark a new low in relations between the two countries.

It could also impede the US- led war on terror - an adventure that has seen an increase in troop volumes by Nato for a cause that is largely being perceived as the "forgotten war". Public support is also running low.

Though one must acknowledge the trials that Karzai has been up against in a bid to stabilise his country his first assignment should now be to fulfil the expectations of his own people. International aid is not yet in short supply, but patience could well be running out.