WASHINGTON, Sept 21: Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have hardened their positions against each other before a crucial meeting between Pakistani and American leaders which is expected to focus on the Afghan situation.

President Pervez Musharraf is scheduled to meet President George W. Bush on Friday at the White House.

The Bush-Musharraf meeting is to be followed by a separate session between Mr Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday.

Then the three leaders are slated to hold a joint meeting on Wednesday.

The first salvo in the latest dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan was fired by President Karzai who told world leaders at the United Nations on Wednesday that ‘terrorism does not emanate from within Afghanistan.’

He said there was a need to destroy terrorist sanctuaries beyond Afghanistan, and to dismantle all terror networks in the region.

Though he did not mention Pakistan by name, the reference was obvious.

Responding to these remarks at a news conference at the UN, President Musharraf said ‘for the last 27 years, Pakistan has borne the brunt of what has been happening in Afghanistan.’

“Instead of this blame game that goes on ... he (Mr Karzai) must realise what the correct environment is and take action accordingly in Afghanistan,” the president said.

Afghanistan has focused its criticism on a truce Pakistan signed earlier this month with pro-Taliban militants in North Waziristan. This will end the military crackdown in the area and in return the militants will shun violence and stop hiding foreign terrorists.

Commenting on the Bush-Musharraf meeting, White House and State Department officials have confirmed media reports that the talks will focus on the resurgence of violence in Afghanistan and on the North Waziristan peace accord.

President Bush also has said that he would raise Afghanistan’s concerns over the tribal deal when he meets Gen Musharraf.

The Afghans complain that the arrangement will lift the pressure on the Taliban and Al Qaeda supporters living on the Pakistan side of the border and free them for waging attacks inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan has rejected the suggestion.

“This deal would not only bring peace to our side of the border but can also be replicated in Afghanistan if it succeeds,” says Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri.

President Bush says he understands what Gen Musharraf is attempting to do but that the United States will be watching developments ‘very carefully.’