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KABUL/ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali said on Monday that security along the border with Afghanistan would be further strengthened to stop militants from crossing back and forth.
"We want to ensure... that there is no criss-cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan, or from Pakistan into Afghanistan," Prime Minister Jamali told a news briefing after his meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the heavily-guarded Presidential Palace.
Mr Jamali also pledged to join hands with Afghanistan in combating terrorism and help in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. The prime minister, who was on a day-long visit to the Afghan capital, recalled the days when he had first visited Kabul in the 1970s. "Then it was a beautiful city," he reminisced.
He said he felt sorry and was hurt at the devastation Afghanistan had suffered during the past decades. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, reciprocating the goodwill, recalled the time he had spent in Quetta and remarked that Mr Jamali's visit had brought him memories of his stay in the capital of Balochistan.
Mr Jamali told reporters that the two sides discussed the issue of terrorism and agreed to fight it out jointly 'hand in hand.' "The fight against extremism and terrorism... there's no looking back. We have to go ahead with this, it is a menace all over the world. We go ahead hand in hand," he said.
"We have to try to eradicate it, so there is no let-off, there is no turning back," Mr Jamali said. When asked about demands from Kabul and the United States that Pakistan should do more to stop militants from crossing over into Afghanistan, the prime minister said: "We are doing a lot and we will do more."
Mr Jamali said Pakistan had already deployed around 65,000 troops on the border with Afghanistan at some 800 posts to check cross-border movement. "We will keep on making them (border control measures) better and keep on making them stronger so the people of both countries do not suffer at all," he said.
The prime minister said Pakistan was doing whatever it could to help in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. On this occasion he also announced a donation of 100 buses and 200 trucks for Afghanistan.
He said a contract for the construction of the Torkham-Jalalabad road had already been awarded and expressed the hope that the project would be completed by June 2005.
He said Pakistan had also offered to build a rail-link between Chaman and Kandahar in addition to opening two additional border crossings between the two countries.
The prime minister also offered scholarships for Afghan students in the fields of engineering, information technology and business administration in Pakistani universities. "Whatever the number (of scholarships presently) is, we will double it next year," he said.
Mr Jamali said that Pakistan had also offered to build a kidney centre in Jalalabad and a limb centre in Kandahar. "As a brotherly Muslim country Pakistan has tried to do and will keep on trying to help rebuild the brotherly Muslim country of Afghanistan," Mr Jamali said.
He said he was happy to note that trade between the two countries had gone up from $430 million last year to $620 million this year and hoped that the figure would reach the $1 billion mark next year.
Speaking on the occasion, President Karzai said there was a resolve on both sides to fight terrorism. "Its recognized in Pakistan and Afghanistan that the fight against terrorism is a joint fight. It is for the future of both the countries, and for the future of this region, and for the future of the international community as a whole.
"Both of us are together in the struggle against it. Afghanistan and Pakistan have to join hands to fight and eradicate terrorism from Afghanistan. And the fight against terrorism from both sides will get more serious.
"And the Pakistan government has assured us that their fight (against terrorism) will be complete." In reply to a question, Prime Minister Jamali said that Pakistan was doing what it could to fight terrorism. "Terrorism is not liked by any one and every country wants to have a better life and better security. Terrorism is not acceptable in any form and in any shape."
He denied any pressure from the United States in this regard and said Pakistan was doing it in its own interest to make the country safer for its people. "Why would they pressurise us. Its our security which worries us. We will take our own measures."
POSITIVE CHANGE: Speaking at a press conference at the Chaklala air base on his return from Afghanistan on Monday, Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali said there was a positive change in the Afghan attitude towards Pakistan, and added that both the countries had decided to further enhance cooperation in the war against terror, adds our staff reporter from Islamabad.
The prime minister said his visit was a 'great success' and both the countries agreed to continue to support each other in the war against terrorism without any let up.
Mr Jamali said the Afghan government appreciated Pakistan's decision of releasing 194 Afghan prisoners. He said the Afghan government had also agreed to release 94 Pakistanis languishing in its jails. The rest would be released gradually and they would be screened by the Pakistani authorities.
Prime Minister Jamali said on his request the Afghan authorities agreed to allow the Pakistani nationals to use the Afghan territory to bypass the Lowari top.
The route is usually inaccessible during heavy snowfall in the winter season, cutting off Chitral from the rest of the country. The people can use the 100km long alternate route passing through Afghanistan.
The prime minister said Pakistan had also offered buses and trucks to Afghanistan. He said these would be part of the $100 million aid package for Afghanistan's reconstruction.
He said Pakistan apprised the Afghan leadership about the steps taken by it to strengthen security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the measures to counter terrorism threat.
Mr Jamali said the two sides agreed to increase the level of bilateral trade up to one billion dollar, from the current $620 million. He said during his meetings with Afghan leaders, including an exclusive meeting with President Hamid Karzai, a number of issues came under discussion. The two sides agreed to open two new border checkpoints to ease the pressure at Torkham and Chaman. The new border points would be set up at Kamadan Karzai and Killi Ghulam Khan.
In reply to a question about allegations levelled by the Afghan authorities in the past, he said the two countries had agreed to adhere to the "policy of faith and trust".
He said even if there was some complaints it was better that the two sides discussed it among themselves, instead of using the media. The prime minister also invited the former Afghan King Zahir Shah and President Hamid Karzai to visit Pakistan. He said the two accepted the invitation and said they considered Pakistan their second home.
When asked about earlier reports of use of Afghan territory by India against Pakistan, Mr Jamali said: "Afghanistan will not support any third country against Pakistan."
He said Pakistan took up the issue earlier, however, the recent thaw in relations between Pakistan and India would definitely have a positive impact.
Prime Minister Jamali was accompanied by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar and senior officials.
