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ISLAMABAD Aug 27: Pakistan and Afghanistan said on Tuesday that they have agreed on security forces’ cooperation to fight terrorism, hunt down suspected terrorists and wage a battle on drugs.
This was stated by visiting Afghan foreign ministers Abdullah Abdullah and minister for finance and economic affairs Dr Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, at a news conference before leaving for Kabul after a two-day official visit to Islamabad.
“We suggested establishment of a mechanism between our security apparatuses and the ministry of interior here in order to deal with these issues. (The) agreement is there and we will work it out together.”
Both said the Afghan government was keen in working with Pakistan for achieving greater regional stability and economic progress through eradication of terrorism and extremism.
Earlier, they called on President Pervez Musharraf at the latter’s office and discussed with him matters of mutual interest. They said: “The president reiterated commitment of his government in extending full cooperation in the reconstruction activities in Afghanistan.”
President Musharraf, he said, “reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue technical and other assistance in the rehabilitation of Afghan infrastructures”.
AL QAEDA: Referring to the ongoing military operations to flush out remnants of Al Qaeda and Taliban from the two countries, the foreign minister said: “We discussed the issue of tensions not specifically of Al Qaeda, for, Pakistan itself has been a victim of highest amount of terrorism in recent times.
“We have agreed that we must work jointly in war on terrorism as in our view unless the terrorism is not eliminated from our countries, stability and peace cannot be guaranteed,” he said and added that there was a total commitment on part of Pakistan to pursuit Al Qaeda men from both territories.
He expressed the hope that the government emerging after October polls would continue to curb terrorism.
Replying to a question whether the Kabul would like to influence India resolve the Kashmir issue the Afghan foreign minister said: “As a neighbouring country we desire that issue of Kashmir is resolved through mutual negotiations so as peace returns to this turbulent region”.
ATT: About Afghan Transit Trade (ATT), the Afghan minister for finance said that both sides had discussed and realized that the thorny problems like growth of smuggling, should be resolved by bilateral efforts.
About opening a Pakistani bank in Afghanistan, he said: “We have a bitter experience of collapse of banking system in many countries and since we are in the transitory period we have taken precautionary steps.”
Earlier, Mr Abdullah Abdullah in his opening remarks said his delegation had held detailed talks with Pakistani authorities. Both sides desired strengthening of bilateral relations and reaffirmed the commitment to work together in war on terrorism and extremism, he added.
“We also discussed the operation against Al Qaeda and remnants of Taliban, both in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said.
Dr Ashraf Ghani said we have agreed to revive Pakistan- Afghan economic joint commission which is expected to hold its first meeting in Kabul.
