ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States reached an agreement on Saturday for enhancing trilateral intelligence cooperation to improve the timely sharing of essential information needed to defeat the terrorist threat.

The agreement was reached at the Tripartite Commission, comprising senior military and diplomatic representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States at its sixth meeting held at Camp Phoenix in Kabul.

The US delegation hosted the event.

The three delegations discussed recent developments concerning security along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including practical measures to counter cross-border infiltration and terrorist activities. All parties reaffirmed the vital importance of combating international terrorism.

The commission exchanged views at a strategic level on the basic elements of an enhanced Afghanistan and Pakistan security relationship to ensure the security of their common border and strengthen ties between their respective defence and military establishments.

The meeting unilaterally decided to enhance trilateral intelligence cooperation to improve the timely sharing of essential information needed to defeat the terrorist threat.

The commission received briefings from the sub-committees on military information exchange and coordination and border posts on their recent activities to enhance security coordination and reduce tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.

An update on steps to improve communication links among units deployed in border regions was also presented.

The commission will hold its next meeting in March in Islamabad.

The Afghan delegation was led by National Security Adviser Dr Zalmai Rassoul. He was assisted by Deputy Interior Minister Hilalludin Hillal, Maj-Gen Sher Mohammed Karimi of the Ministry of Defence, Foreign Ministry spokesperson and DG for Information Omar Samad, Afghanistan's Ambassador to Pakistan Nangyyalai Tarzi and National Security Council Senior Associate Dr Qadir Amiryar.

The Pakistan side, which was headed by Director-General of Military Operations Maj-Gen Mohammed Yousaf, also included Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General Rashed Saleem Khan, Brigadier Waheed Arshad, Director Military Operations, Brigadier Wajid Hussain, Director of Military Intelligence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director Faqir Syed Asif Hussain.

Lt-Gen David W. Barno, Commander, Military Operations in Afghanistan, led the US delegation that also included representatives from Combined Joint Task Force-180 and the US embassies in Kabul and Islamabad.-APP