Afghan, Pakistan talks end with pledge to fight terrorism
AFGHANISTAN: Talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan ended with
calls to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries in their respective tribal
regions and to fight the opium trade financing Islamic militants.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, addressing 700 tribal delegates
at the end of a landmark “peace jirga” aimed at defeating the common
threat of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, called for an urgent “rescue” from
Muslim extremism.
A statement at the close of the four-day tribal council also agreed
to push for reconciliation with the “opposition” — a reference to
Taliban who agree to recognise the government of President Hamid Karzai.
Participants pledged they would “not allow sanctuaries/training
centres for terrorists in their respective countries,” according to the
declaration text.
They acknowledged the “nexus between narcotics and terrorism” and
called upon the two governments to wage an “all-out war against this
menace.”
They agreed to establish a council, comprising 25 delegates from each
country, to promote reconciliation with the “opposition” and closer
cooperation between the neighbours.
Musharraf said both Afghanistan and Pakistan had to get away from
what he called the backwardness and violence of Islamic extremism.
“These forces are disrupting peace and harmony, impeding our progress
and development,” he said. “We must rescue our societies from this
danger and work together until we defeat the forces of extremism and
terrorism.”
The Pakistani president conceded that there was support from
Pakistani tribal areas for the insurgency in Afghanistan, extremism and
“Talibanisation” — the spread of the Taliban’s strictly Islamist
doctrine.
Pakistan understood it had a “solemn responsibility” to fight against
such influences, he said.
Karzai said at a luncheon Saturday with Pakistani officials that the
jirga would cement relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Assembling leaders and public opinion makers from both the countries
to discuss and share their views on core issues is a good omen for peace
and harmony in the region,” a Pakistan news agency quoted him as saying.
Kabul Monday, AFP |