Paris, Apr 26 : French President Nicolas Sarkozy claimed in a TV show that if France abandons Afghanistan, Pakistan will fall like a house of cards.

“Next to Afghanistan there is Pakistan, there is an atomic bomb. If we let Afghanistan fall, Pakistan will fall like a house of cards,” The Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

Sarkozy has announced that France would send another 700 troops to Afghanistan, saying NATO operations are still required in that country.

Sarkozy has said that he would not hold talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, Hamas in the Palestinian territories and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

At least 1,800 French troops make France the second largest partner of the United States in Afghanistan after Germany. (ANI)