Musharraf-Karzai Meet: Pakistan, Afghanistan Leaders Vow to eliminate Terror     
By M D Malik - Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: 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 General Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai told the media after formal talks that they remain 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 has been successful in its fight against terrorism, having destroyed the sanctuaries and communication links of terrorists who 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 has also been successful in its counter-terror drive on its side.

President Karzai

Afghan President Karzai, who will be the guest of honour at 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 the Pakistani leader’s position on the issue.

The two sides discussed enhancing trade, with President Musharraf saying that they have 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.

Musharraf expresses Satisfaction

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 Karzai’s visit would help strengthen the ties between two brotherly countries.

During the wide-ranging talks, the two leaders reviewed Pak-Afghan relations and exchanged views on developments in the region and beyond. “We have agreed to strengthen the institutional underpinning of our bilateral relations,” said the host leader.

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 enjoys 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.

Arrival

Earlier, Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad Tuesday afternoon on a two-day official visit to Pakistan. He was received at the airport by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Minister for Tourism Ghazi Gulab Jamal. Twenty-one guns boomed as the Afghan President came out of his special plane. A contingent of

Pakistan Air Force presented salute and guard of honour to the distinguished guest. President Hamid Karzai would be the guest of honour at the Pakistan Day Parade today.

Pakistan and Afghanistan would sign five agreements and protocols on political consultations, cooperation in tourism, culture, media, bus service between Peshawar and Jalalabad and between Quetta and Kandahar during the visit.

The Afghan President is accompanied by Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Defence, Transport, Tribal Areas and Advisor on National Security.●