EDMONTON - Canada's defence minister says the government of Pakistan must do more to stop the flow of insurgents and weapons into neighbouring Afghanistan.

Speaking at a symposium in Edmonton, Peter MacKay lamented the lack of official border controls between the two countries.

He says insurgents are getting into Afghanistan through Kandahar province partly because of the easy flow of fighters and guns across the border with Pakistan.

MacKay says that's why they've `laid down the gauntlet' with other countries that everybody is needed at that front line in Kandahar.

Yet, the defence minister says if members of the Taliban are willing to renounce violence, accept the rule of law and a duly elected government, Canada will even support the Afghan government's attempts to reach out to the group.

Gen. Walter Natynczyk, chief of defence staff, says Taliban fighters are resting and resupplying along the Pakistan border and the shaky security situation there affects security for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.