ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: President Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai pledged on Wednesday to share intelligence and tighten border controls to quash increasing attacks by Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists.
“People from both the countries are suffering under the hands of extremism and terrorism,” President Musharraf said at a joint news conference on Wednesday evening.
“The key in fighting and enhancing the capability against terrorism and extremism is intelligence cooperation,” he said.
“The two intelligence agencies, on both sides, must cooperate more strongly if we are to deal with terrorists and extremists more effectively,” President Musharraf said.
“These twins will gain together, will suffer together, will profit together, will lose together,” he said.
“We have to work together to function well for the mutual benefit of both the countries, and that is what Pakistan looks forward to,” he said.
He said that military operation in Swat region and other areas had badly weakened the militants, and said there would be more operations in other regions in the coming days.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that militant attacks on the Afghan side of the border had been decreasing, while attacks on the Pakistani side were rising.
He repeatedly referred to President Musharraf as “my brother” and said the talks had been fruitful.
“We today discussed the issues of vital importance to both Afghanistan and Pakistan. We discussed them in sincerity and in a manner that enhanced our understanding,” he said.
“People in both the countries are suffering -- suffering a lot,” Mr Karzai said.“And it is incumbent upon us -- the leadership of the two countries, the governments -- to find ways to bring peace and stability to each home, each family, in both countries,” Mr Karzai said.The Afghan leader said their talks had covered a shortage of wheat flour plaguing both countries and boosting trade and the transit of goods through Pakistan.
He said he hoped the talks would result in action and the fruition of what they had agreed.—Agencies
