Pakistan-Afghanistan to increase cooperation in fight against terrorism

KUN0069 4 GEN 0271 KUWAIT /KUNA-SVV3 POL-LD MUSHARRAF-KABUL-VISI Pakistan-Afghanistan to increase cooperation in fight against terrorism ISLAMABAD Nov 6 (KUNA) - President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday congratulated his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, on his election as the first elected president of Afghanistan and urged to increase cooperation in fight against terrorism to win it, state-run media report said. President Musharraf Saturday arrived in Kabul on a one-day visit, accompanied by Governors of NWFP Lt. Gen (Retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussein Shah, Balochistan Governor Awais Ghani, Foreign Minister Khursihd M. Kasuri, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Minister for Tourism Ghazi Jamal Ghulab and Deputy Chairman Senate Khalil-ur-Rehman and Pakistan's Ambassador in Kabul. He was given a warm welcome at the Kabul airport. A contingent of the Afghan army presented a guard of honor and national anthems of the two countries were played. While addressing a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace here, President Musharraf said Pakistan and Afghanistan will have to succeed in the fight against terrorism and they are together in this war, said Pakistan Television (PTV). He said the success of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan is Pakistan success and Pakistan's success against terrorism is Afghanistan's success. He made it clear that both countries will fight against terrorism offensively and cooperate in all manners to succeed. He said Pakistan is succeeding in the fight against terrorism and there is tremendous cooperation from within the country. -- He emphasized the need for cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan in intelligence and other fields in locating and identifying areas of terrorists hideouts. Congratulating President Hamid Karzai on his election, General Pervez Musharraf said that relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan in political, economic, trade, reconstruction and fight against terrorism would flourish in the future. He said, "Holding of elections in Afghanistan augurs well not only for Afghanistan but for the region and Pakistan." He commended vision and democratic values of the people of Afghanistan for voting heavily in the elections. The President said the destinies of Pakistan and Afghanistan are inter-linked and there is no doubt that the two countries have historical, cultural, religious and geographical linkages. He said the two countries as sovereign states would respect the sovereign equality of each other. Pakistan looks forward to the relationship of economic, commercial and trade benefits between the two countries. He added while Pakistan provides sea linkages to Afghanistan with the rest of the world, Afghanistan provides land linkages to Pakistan for Central Asian Republics. Referring to Pakistan's role in reconstruction of Afghanistan, General Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan would contribute in any form possible. It had already pledged 100 million dollars for reconstruction of Afghanistan and a substantial amount from it has already been consumed. In this connection, he referred to construction of Toorkhum-Jalalabad road link and Chaman-Kandahar rail link between the two countries. He also offered to increase other facilities available in Pakistan like scholarships to students and training facilities to Afghanistan officials. -- He said Pakistan is ready to provide electricity to border areas of Afghanistan. It will construct academic blocks in universities of Kabul, Jalalabad and IT block and artificial limb centre at Mazar-e-Sharif. The Afghan President Hamid Karzai praised Pakistan's role for smooth and peaceful elections in Afghanistan and facilitating Afghanistan refugees to cast their votes. "Afghanistan's foreign policy would lay a lot of emphasis on closer ties with neighboring countries especially with Pakistan. This cooperation would increase to the benefit of the two countries and the region," Karzai said. President Musharraf also offered membership of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), saying, "Pakistan would be pleased if Afghanistan applies for the membership of SAARC". He said Pakistan will look at it very positively but for this purpose, support of other SAARC members is necessary. President Karzai said Afghanistan would like to be part of SAARC. In reply to a question about cross-border infiltration, Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan acted positively and blocked routes and roads through army and frontier constabulary "so that there is no interference by the terrorists from Pakistan side." Earlier President General Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai held wide-ranging talks in Kabul to expand relations in economic and commercial fields, PTV said. Both the Presidents during bilateral talks discussed a wide range of issues including bilateral relations with focus on economic and trade ties between the two countries, reconstruction of Afghanistan and regional situation. - It added that President General Pervez Musharraf also had a separate meeting with the former Afghan King Zahir Shah in Kabul. The President remained with him for some time and enquired about his health. The surprise visit, though government officials here said it was pre-planned, of President Musharraf to Kabul comes two days before the visit of, Richard Armitage, the US Deputy Secretary. Armitage is will arrive in Islamabad on Monday to hold terror talks with President Gen Pervez Musharraf. (end) amn.mm KUNA 061955 Nov 04NNNN