By Zhang Yunlong

    KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Visiting NATO secretary general Jaapde Hoop Scheffer said Thursday here a regional approach is "more than ever" needed in tackling Afghan security situation, calling for increased political attention from concerned parts and international community.

    The remarks came amid surging criticism from Afghan officials who said militants were using sanctuaries inside Pakistani soil to launch cross-border attacks into Afghanistan and the reported peace talks recently between Islamabad and militants based in its northwest areas led to escalated militancy on Afghan side.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (L) speaks as Afghan President Hamid Karzai watches during a news conference in Kabul July 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Scheffer, who was on a surprise visit to the Afghan capital Thursday, attended a joint press conference with President Hamid Karzai, during which Karzai said peace agreements between Islamabad and militants should not pave the way for militants to freely conduct activities against Afghanistan.

    The visiting NATO chief, however, in a more constructive tone of voice, said Pakistan, also facing militants' trouble, is part of a political solution for security problems challenging the region.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (L) and Afghan President Hamid Karzai attend a news conference in Kabul July 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "I cannot imagine anyone who considers it acceptable that many terrorists from all over the world gather" in some of its area and create mischief, Scheffer said. "For Pakistan, it can also never be a positive development."

    He said Afghanistan and Pakistan and the international community have to pay more political attention to this very serious problem.

    He noted that those who want to destabilize Afghanistan are the people who are killing NATO forces and destabilizing Pakistan and much large part of the world.

    "More than ever," Scheffer said, a regional approach is needed for trying to stall the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

    Despite a presence of over 70,000 foreign troops including the NATO forces and a separate U.S.-led Coalition troops, Afghanistan has still been in the grip of Taliban-led insurgency, six and half years after a U.S.-led invasion toppled the hard-line Taliban regime.

    NATO officials admitted there was an increase of militant attacks during the past months of this year especially in June. Both May and June saw higher monthly U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan than in Iraq.

    The United States Democratic presidential aspirant Barack Obama promised long-term support to Afghanistan during a Sunday meeting with President Karzai in Kabul.

    Obama has said U.S. focus should be shifted to Afghanistan, the central front of war on terrorism and proposed reinforcements of two U.S. brigades, totally around 7,000 troops, to the central Asian country.

    Insurgency and clashes last year claimed over 8,000 lives in Afghanistan, a record high.

    Scheffer, while reconfirming the NATO's long-term commitment to Afghanistan, Thursday also said the NATO is doing its best to prevent from causing civilian casualties in fighting Taliban militants, who often use women and children as "human shields" when engaging NATO forces.

    The military alliance "will leave no stone untouched to prevent as much as we can the loss of any civilian innocent Afghan life," Scheffer said.

    According to UN figures, some 698 Afghan civilians died in the first half of year 2008, of which 422 were killed by anti-government elements and 255 were killed by Afghan government or international military forces.