“In an interview with the BBC, [Afghan President] Mr [Hamid] Karzai’s national security adviser, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, said fighting the war on Afghan soil was not enough. ‘Even if we defeat the Taliban, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups within Afghanistan, [if] we don’t destroy the recruitment centre and we don’t destroy the causes, it is not possible to win the war,’ he said. Mr Spanta has repeatedly accused Pakistan of nurturing militants by providing sanctuary and support to the Taliban and other militant networks. He said Islamabad still regarded Afghanistan as its sphere of influence.”
– “Afghanistan’s Karzai Criticises US Troop Pullout,” BBC News, Aug. 27, 2010