JALALABAD, Sept 13: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday vowed to promote mutual trust and harmony as they opened a rebuilt road between their countries. Prime Minister Aziz went to Jalalabad to open the road rebuilt by Pakistan with President Karzai.

The two leaders talked about promoting education to make progress in all facets. Terrorism, they agreed, was a common enemy and must be fought jointly.

Mr Aziz’s two-hour visit marked the opening of the 75km Torkham-Jalalabad road that is considered a major link between the two nations facilitating Afghan transit trade and a step towards Pakistan’s road access to the Central Asian states.

He termed a turning point in bilateral relations last week’s visit by President Pervez Musharraf to Kabul.

“We must promote trust and must learn to live with each other and this is the mindset we must follow. We must not allow those forces which oppose our coming closer together,” the prime minister said.

He asked his hosts to make progress in the education sector, saying that illiterate nations could not progress. He said his government was making humble contribution by cutting its own development to share its growth with Afghan brethren.

President Karzai thanked the prime minister for reiterating the importance of education and agreed that terrorism could be overcome through education. He said Pakistan had hosted millions of his countrymen for years and Afghans never forgot any good done to them.

Tight security arrangements made for the prime minister’s visit showed that security was still a major concern in Jalalabad. The event was attended by about 150 notables, including a delegation of more than 80 people led by Darya Khan from the Khyber Agency. The prime minister’s delegation comprising government officials, Punjab elite force men and media representatives was taken to Jalalabad in two Pakistan Air Force planes.

The dual-lane road has been completed by the Frontier Works Organisation at a cost of Rs2.06 billion as part of a $250 million grant Pakistan has pledged to extend to Afghanistan over five years. The FWO will double the road at an estimated cost of $55 million.

The prime minister said Pakistan would also complete the project of extension of railway line from Chaman to Spin Boldak.

Pakistan, he said, was also funding other projects, including a kidney centre in Jalalabad, a university in Nangarhar and Jinnah hospital in Kabul.

He said Pakistan had always believed that a strong, stable and vibrant Afghanistan was good for peace in the world and for both the neighbours. President Karzai, speaking in Pushtu, said it was heartening to note the realisation in the Pakistani leadership that a strong and progressing Afghanistan was in the neighbouring country’s interest. He said: “Terrorism has no nation or religion and is a friend of none.”

ROCKETS FIRED: Two rockets were fired into the city about two hours before the leaders arrived, one landing on the outskirts of the airport complex, but neither caused any casualties, according to AFP.