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Afghan, Pakistani presidents vow to fight terrorism

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb. 16, IRNA -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari Thursday identified terrorism and extremism as common challenges that require a common approach and close co-operation for effective handling.

President Karzai is in Islamabad for bilateral talks and the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran trilateral summit.

President Karzai and President Zardari discussed wide-ranging bilateral issues focusing on security and efforts to ensure regional peace, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

The two leaders who had been meeting frequently at various international fora, held the initial round of exclusive talks, he said in a statement.

Their respective delegations later joined the leaders for in-depth talks aimed at giving their relations a new dimension, he said.

During the one-on-one meeting, President Zardari and President Karzai emphasised the need for working together towards an enhanced bilateral engagement for deepening interaction in all areas.

They vowed to focus on security, development, transit, trade, economic and investment linkages, the statement said.

Both sides also discussed ways to cooperate on infrastructure, energy connectivity and people-to-people contacts for harnessing mutual benefits.

The talks also focused on the reconciliation process for an intra-Afghan political settlement and the situation after the withdrawal of the US troops.

President Zardari said Pakistan has always favoured an Afghan led and Afghan owned solution that ensures stability in the country, which was vital for regional peace and security.

The meeting was followed by delegation-level talks. President Zardari was assisted by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Advisor to the PM on Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.

The Afghan President's delegation comprised Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Zalmai Rassoul and Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak. National Security Advisor, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Jawed Ludin, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Muhammad Umar Daudzai and other senior Afghan government officials.

**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30821673