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US Defense Secretary in Pakistan to Discuss Afghanistan

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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Pakistan to discuss counter-terrorism efforts and the Taleban insurgency in neighboring Afghanistan.

Gates arrived in the capital, Islamabad, Monday to meet with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Washington has been putting pressure on General Musharraf to stop Taleban fighters from crossing into Afghanistan.

Gates just finished four days of meetings in Spain and Germany focused largely on the war in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's foreign minister, Khursheed Kasuri, recently said the government has decided against mining its border with Afghanistan, but still intends to build a fence along parts of it.

On Sunday, the governor of southern Afghanistan's Helmand province said 700 foreign fighters, including Pakistanis, are in the region to help Taleban insurgents.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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