ISLAMABAD, March 22: Pakistan and Afghanistan resolved on Tuesday to forge a broad-based relationship with a thrust on invigorating trade and economic ties and expressed the common commitment to step up their coordination in the fight against terror. President Gen Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai told the media after formal talks that they remained firmly committed to rooting out terrorism for sustainable development, peace and stability in the region. “We are resolved to combat terrorism until it is completely removed — we will fight terrorism together in a coordinated manner,” emphasized President Musharraf.

He declared that Pakistan had been successful in its fight against terrorism, having destroyed the sanctuaries and communication links of terrorists who had taken refuge in the country’s tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

“This force (terrorists) stands defeated, although they are still there in small pockets, we have broken the communication linkages; now what we need is to destroy their penny pockets.”

The president termed the fight against terrorism in the region a success story.

“We expressed satisfaction that we have been successful in the campaign against the menace, we are succeeding in our tribal areas boarding Afghanistan,” he said, adding that Afghanistan had also been successful in its counter-terror drive on its side.

Afghan President Karzai, who will be the guest of honour at the Pakistan Day Parade on Wednesday, fully backed President Musharraf’s call for addressing the menace of extremism in its long-term perspective.

“Afghanistan has wholehearted support for President Musharraf’s emphasis and we have been conveying to the world community to commit itself to addressing the problem through a process of socio-economic uplift of the Muslim countries,” he said, appreciating Pakistan leader’s position on the issue.

The two sides discussed enhancing trade, with President Musharraf saying that they had removed minor differences in the way of Afghan transit trade.

“We are in an era of irritant-free interaction; we will enhance and cement our trade relations through homogeneity in the region from Central Asian states to Afghanistan and to Pakistan. We discussed how we can integrate advantages of our geography for our mutual benefit. The whole region should benefit from robust trade activity,” he said.

President Musharraf expressed satisfaction at the existing political, diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.

“Whatever Pakistan can do in the development, reconstruction and political process of Afghanistan, we will do,” he said, welcoming Karzai to Pakistan on the eve of the Pakistan Day.

The president expressed the hope that Mr Karzai’s visit would help strengthen the ties between the two brotherly countries.

During the wide-ranging talks, the two leaders reviewed Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and exchanged views on developments in the region and beyond.

“We have agreed to strengthen the institutional underpinning of our bilateral relations,” said President Musharraf.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are expected to sign a number of agreements covering political consultations between the two foreign ministries as well as cooperation in the transport, tourism, media and cultural fields.

In response to a question, President Karzai favoured a pipeline project for supply of gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan, and said his country enjoyed stability and peace and ‘offers a conducive environment’ for such a project.

“The two countries will gain tremendously from the project as it would help generate economic activities in Afghanistan and meet Pakistan’s energy requirements,” he said.—APP