Afghan, Pakistani presidents vow to jointly fight against terrorism
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Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on Wednesday held talks on jointly fighting terrorism and extremism and ways to address regional issues related to peace and security.
President Zardari met with visiting Afghan President Karzai upon his arrival in Islamabad Wednesday afternoon. The Afghan president arrived here for a two-day state visit, the official APP news agency reported.
The two leaders expressed the resolve to remove misunderstandings of the past and to jointly move forward in the fight against militancy.
During the exclusive and delegation level talks, President Zardari stressed the importance of enhancing interaction between the two countries to better cope with the issues of terrorism and extremism.
"The two countries need to speak the same language at international forums because both suffer from the same malaise caused by the same mindset of militancy and extremism," said Zardari.
He said the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan were of great importance and termed terrorism as a common challenge to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan was determined to fight militancy to the end, which was a long drawn battle and there were no quick solution to this problem.
Afghan President Karzai called for a partnership which allows realization of the full potential of human and natural resources and want greater connectivity, more trade and economic cooperation.
He called for new development projects and investments in the two countries driven by energy corridors in the region.
Karzai appreciated Pakistan's support and efforts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan.
The two sides focused on the need for greater harmony between the two countries.
The president of Afghanistan is leading a 45-member delegation including ministers and advisors and will meet Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and other high-ups.
Analysts believe Afghan side will seek assistance from Pakistan in the talks with Taliban and will also call for the transfer of senior Afghan Taliban leaders who have been rounded up in Pakistan over the past two months.
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