WASHINGTON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has threatened to send troops into neighboring Pakistan, saying his country has the right to do so out of self-defense.

He said in a news conference Sunday that Afghanistan has the right to destroy terrorist hideouts across the border because militants come from Pakistan to kill Afghan and coalition troops.

The Afghan leader said Pakistan-based Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud should know that, as Mr. Karzai put it, “we will go after him now and hit him in his house.”   Mr. Karzai gave the same warning for Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

In Pakistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said his country will not allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs.

Mr. Karzai’s warning comes just days Pakistan blamed U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan for an air strike that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers.   

U.S. military officials say they carried out the air strike on militants in the area, but say they informed Pakistan before doing so.

Troops from both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as U.S.-led and NATO forces based in Afghanistan, have been fighting Taliban militants in the border region.  Each country accuses the other of not doing enough about terrorist activity.

Source:  VOA News