Hamid Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is calling on the international community to find a more strategic approach to fighting terrorism in his country.

Mr. Karzai said Thursday that the current approach to hunt down militants does not focus on the roots of terrorism. He said he believes that the international community must engage in disarming terrorists by stopping their supply of money, training, equipment and motivation.

He noted that 600 people have died in the country in a recent upsurge of violence in the country.  It was not immediately clear how many of the deaths he mentioned were civilians or militants.

In another development, four U.S. soldiers were killed during a combat operation Thursday in northeastern Afghanistan.

Military officials say a fifth American soldier was wounded in the clash with militants.  The battle took place northeast of Kabul in Nuristan province.

Ten thousand coalition troops from Britain, Canada and the United States, as well as Afghanistan have been sweeping through four southern Afghan provinces this week, aiming to cut Taleban supply lines and eliminate insurgents' hideouts.

U.S. military officials say at least 100 Taleban fighters have been killed since the operation began.