AMMAN/DAMASCUS, Jan 23: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday agreed to broaden security cooperation between the two countries to combat the spread of Muslim militancy, and called for fresh talks to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. President Musharraf also held talks with President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus the same day and the two leaders stressed the need for the early resolution of the Palestine issue to end conflicts and tension in the region.

After the talks, President Pervez Musharraf and King Abdullah, both allies of the US in its `war on terror’, told reporters that the two Muslim countries had agreed to give a broader `strategic dimension’ to their bilateral cooperation.

“There is a serious challenge in the shape of our common fight against terrorism and extremism. There is an ever increasing need for harmony within the Muslim world,” President Musharraf said.

Both leaders have tried to promote moderate Islam as a religion of peace that shuns violence, but both face tribal and conservative forces holding strong anti-Western views.

“I found complete convergence of views ... the developments impact on all of us and together we need to play a role to avert the dangers facing us,” President Musharraf said.

Both countries called on the United States and Europe to help resolve the Palestinians-Israeli conflict, which is the root cause of international turmoil.

King Abdullah said Musharraf backed efforts to revive Arab-Israeli peace talks aimed at establishing a viable and independent Palestinian state alongside Israel as part of a comprehensive settlement.

“The unresolved Palestine issue remains central to peace and security in the region and far beyond this immediate region,” President Musharraf said.

In his talks in Damascus, President Musharraf and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called for early resolution of the Palestine issue to end conflicts and tension that had plagued the region.—Agencies