KABUL, Dec 2: Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States are making progress in the war on terror, an Afghan government spokesman said on Tuesday after a tripartite meeting held here to discuss border security.
“It’s a common feeling among the participants that we’re making movements in the fight against terrorism,” foreign ministry spokesman Omar Samad told AFP, after the tripartite commission meeting which he attended.
“We’re trying to come to terms with who are the enemies and who are the spoilers of stability and security in our region, where they are and what to do about them,” he said after the meeting with Pakistani and US officials.
“We have a problem with infiltration ... with remnants of the Taliban finding refuge and support,” he said.
Mr Samad said Kabul was working with Islamabad to tackle security problems in the border area. “We’re working together with them to find a solution to our common security concerns.”
He said the commission, set up in June to discuss security and regional issues, had reached a level of “maturity” marked by “candid, open and friendly exchange of ideas and information relating to this common cause and common concern.”
“The work is moving in the right direction towards our common objective to make this part of the world a safe place for our people,” he said.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the commission said: “The meeting resulted in renewed mutual commitment to increase strategic cooperation to combat terrorism.”
The three sides agreed to establish a sub-committee on exchanging military information and coordination to develop “a common operational picture of the terrorist threat in the border regions.”
Mr Samad said they discussed improving communications “to enhance the military capabilities of all three parties in the war on terrorism.”
National Security Adviser Zalmai Rassoul headed the Afghan delegation while the Pakistan team was led by Director-General of Military Operations Maj-Gen Mohammad Yousaf with Lt-Gen David Barno heading the US side.