SWABI, Feb 21: The Awami National Party (ANP) leaders said on Saturday that cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan was the prerequisite for durable peace in the region and for defeating terrorism.

Addressing a press conference, former MNA Rehmanullah, said that the two countries had already been badly affected by terrorism and if they want to get rid of this menace, they should work out a mechanism for result-oriented collaboration.

Flanked by other leaders of the party, he said, that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan had improved since the PPP government assumed power last year.

The former MNA said that chief of Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM), Maulana Sufi Mohammad, really played a key role in inking the Sharia-based judicial agreement with the government and in the post-Swat accord period his peace caravan was important for restoring peace in Swat and Malakand region.

Regarding the US expressing its doubts over the Swat agreement, he said, “We are independent people and not slaves of any country.

The best option is a negotiated settlement and our leaders Asfandyar Wali khan had already made his intentions clear,” he said. “We want to tell the Americans to give up the idea of destabilising Pakistan,” Rehmanullah said.

“The credit for restoration of peace in Swat also goes to NWFP chief minister who took a bold decision and convinced President Asif Ali Zardari and the prime minister,” the former MNA said.

He said that their party wants peace and stability not only in the Pakhtun areas, but in the whole country.