WASHINGTON, Nov 10: Afghanistan’s foreign minister on Monday called for “meaningful” help from Pakistan in snaring Al Qaeda and Taliban elements.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said the two groups still posed a serious threat as Afghanistan ahead of a landmark general election next year.

“This threat has to be eliminated with the help of our partners — and the meaningful cooperation of Pakistan,” said Mr Abdullah, at a conference on Afghan reconstruction at Georgetown University.

“We believe that the people of Pakistan, like the Afghans, do not want their lives to be taken hostage by terrorists and extremists,” said Mr Abdullah.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s new ambassador to Washington, Said Tayeb Jawad, said at the Washington conference that the Kabul government wanted more help in cementing security.—AFP