Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai this afternoon pledged better co-operation in fighting terrorism, which Musharraf said was "destroying both our countries."
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai this afternoon pledged better co-operation in fighting terrorism, which Musharraf said was "destroying both our countries."
In a brief news conference after their first meeting in four months, they said their talks had been helpful in finding ways to rein in the Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who have flourished along their mutual border.
Both men have accused each other in the past of not doing enough to stop Islamic militants, particularly in the rugged tribal border region that has been in the international spotlight since the September 11th attacks on the US.
But in an apparently warm atmosphere before Mr Musharraf was to host a state dinner for Mr Karzai, he underlined the need for intelligence cooperation with Afghanistan to fight the militant threat.
He said the neighbours had to stop "this menace of extremism and terrorism which is destroying both our countries" and called on their respective intelligence agencies to work hand-in-hand.
"We have developed a strong understanding of each other's problems," Mr Musharraf said. "The key to enhancing our capability against terrorists and extremists is intelligence co-operation."
Both nations are pivotal allies in the US-led "war on terror" and get substantial US aid aimed at fighting militants - but both have also seen a sharp increase in violence this year.
This has been the deadliest year yet of the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, with some 6,000 people killed, while more than 770 people have died in militant attacks in Pakistan.
Agencies