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TARGETING TALEBAN: A coalition forces gunner firing at insurgents near Camp Price in Afghanistan on Saturday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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KABUL - THE leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan have pledged to fight terrorism together and prevent extremists from operating in their countries.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai approved a 'joint declaration' at the closing session of a tribal council meeting in Kabul yesterday.
The two nations agreed to deny 'sanctuaries and training facilities to the terrorists on their soil', the statement said, according to Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation.
A 50-member group, with equal representation from both countries, was set up to continue the dialogue.
In an address that formally closed the four-day tribal council on the Al-Qaeda and Taleban threat facing the region, General Musharraf said the two nations must overcome mutual mistrust and concentrate on this 'critical' endeavour.
'Our societies face a great danger (from) a small minority that create violence and backwardness,' he told about 700 tribal elders, politicians and other figures from both sides of the troubled border.
'These forces are disrupting peace and harmony, impeding our progress and development.'
Gen Musharraf had been expected to open the 'peace council' on Thursday with Mr Karzai, but pulled out at the last minute, citing security concerns.
He reversed his decision after telephone calls from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Karzai, with whom he has bickered over efforts to defeat a resurgence of the Taleban movement backed by Al-Qaeda.
His visit may help ease tensions between the two South Asian neighbours, which have accused each other of failing to secure their 2,430km border.
Mr Karzai has in the past criticised Pakistan for failing to stop Taleban and Al-Qaeda fighters from using camps in the region.
Gen Musharraf has rejected the accusation and pointed to the 80,000 soldiers Pakistan has deployed in the area and the 1,000 military posts it has established on the frontier.
The council meeting was aimed at reaching agreement on measures to prevent Al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters from using bases and crossing the mountainous and porous frontier to carry out attacks in both countries.
Meanwhile, Islamic extremists killed two Afghan nationals in the region yesterday.
The beheaded and limbless body of an Afghan national identified as Habibur Rehman was found near North Waziristan, with a note attached warning of the consequences to 'those who spy for American forces'.
The body of another Afghan, identified as Mohammad Amir, was found near the bazaar in Datta Khel town, about 20km west of Miranshah.
A note attached to his body said: 'He was an American spy.'
BLOOMBERG, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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