ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: Pakistan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have agreed to enhance cooperation to defeat the Taliban and terrorism. The agreement was reached during a meeting of Nato Commander in Afghanistan Gen David Richards with President Pervez Musharraf here on Tuesday.

An official told Dawn that Gen Richards praised Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism but suggested that there should be an extended cooperation in this regard.

The official said the Nato commander had not come with proof of the Inter-Services Intelligence’s involvement in training or helping the Taliban.

The commander of Nato and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said the primary purpose of his visit was to thank the president, the government, the armed forces and security agencies of the country for the excellent cooperation being extended in the fight against terrorism.

He said Isaf wanted to build on this and expand cooperation to defeat the Taliban and terrorists.

He said Isaf fully appreciated that a vast majority of problems of Afghanistan emanated from within the country having deep roots as the country had remained highly unstable for over two decades.

He said it was believed that Taliban activity was being funded through narcotics trade and other criminal activities.

President Musharraf reiterated that Pakistan supported a strong, secure and stable Afghanistan, which was not only in the interest of both the countries but also for the entire region.

He said Pakistan was extending considerable assistance to Afghanistan for its reconstruction. He mentioned various incentives that had been provided to boost trade relations between the two countries.

He said that during his recent meetings with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul and later with President George Bush and the Afghan leader in Washington, he had discussed ways and means to expand cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including the war against terrorism.

Gen Musharraf said Pakistan was assisting Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism, besides hosting over 2.5 million Afghan refugees.

He said the agreement reached recently in North Waziristan was aimed at checking the activities of terrorists and militant Taliban.

Vice-Chief of Army Staff Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat, the high commissioner of the UK and political advisor of Nato in Afghanistan were also present.