ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri on Wednesday called for strengthening cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad against terrorism, saying Pakistan and Afghanistan faced common challenges in the post-Sept 11 scenario.

“Terrorism constitutes a global threat of gravest dimensions and I would like to stress determination of the Pakistan government and people of Pakistan to strengthen this cooperation further,” he said.

The foreign minister was speaking at a ceremony held to award certificates to nine Afghan diplomats, who attended the first specialized diplomatic course for Afghanistan organized by the Foreign Service Academy.

Referring to Pakistan’s consistent support to efforts for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan, Mr Kasuri said at the recent OIC Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Pakistan supported the conference’s move to constitute an OIC Fund to assist the Afghan people.

At the bilateral level, he said, Pakistan has taken a number of initiatives to promote closer cooperation with Karzai government.

Pakistan, he said, supported the Bonn Process, pledging assistance in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan, adding that $100 million had been pledged and its disbursement was proceeding according to schedule.—APP