Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and
his visiting Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on Wednesday held
wide-ranging talks focusing on jointly fighting terrorism, strengthening bilateral ties and ways to address regional issues related to peace and security.
Karzai, who arrived in Pakistan late this afternoon
for a two-day visit,his first since re-election as Afghanistan
President, drove to the presidency and met Zardari soon after
flying into the Chaklala military airbase in Rawalpindi.
The two leaders expressed their resolve to remove
"misunderstandings of the past' and to jointly move forward in
the fight against militancy.
During one-to-one and delegation-level talks, Zardari
stressed the need for enhanced interaction between the two
countries to better cope with terrorism and extremism.
He said Afghanistan's unity, sovereignty and
territorial integrity are of "great importance" and described
terrorism as a common challenge to both countries.
Karzai is expected to call for the handing over of
senior Afghan Taliban leaders, including Mullah Abdul Ghani
Baradar, who were arrested in Pakistan over the past few
weeks, Afghan sources said.
There is no extradition treaty between the two
countries and Pakistan has said it will consider any formal
request from Afghanistan for the handing over of Mullah
Baradar and the other Taliban commanders.
Zardari also spoke of the need for new development
projects and investments in the two countries driven by
regional energy corridors.
Afghan Interior Minister Muhammad Hanif Atmar is
believed to have handed over a list of 43 Taliban leaders
sought by Afghan authorities during his visit to Islamabad
last month.
Zardari said Pakistan is determined to fight militancy
to the end. This will be a "long-drawn battle and there are no
quick solutions to the problem," he added.
He also said that Pakistan believes military action
alone is not a solution to the problem of terrorism.
Karzai sought a partnership that allows the
realisation of the full potential of human and natural
resources of the two countries and called for greater
connectivity, more trade and economic cooperation.
Zardari was assisted during the delegation-level talks
by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Defence Minister
Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.
Karzai was aided by Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai
Rasoul, National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta and
other senior officials.
Zardari also pointed out that over three million
Afghan refugees are still in Pakistan and said the early
restoration of peace and normalcy in Afghanistan will enable
their return.
Karzai will meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
tomorrow. This is Karzai's first visit to Pakistan since his
re-election last year.
Senate Chairman Farooq Naek, Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi and other ministers welcomed Karzai at the
Chaklala military airbase.
A 21-gun salute was presented to Karzai and the
national anthems of both countries were played.
Pakistani and Afghan officials have not provided
details of the agenda for talks but sources said both sides
will also discuss ongoing efforts to hold talks with the
Afghan Taliban.
Afghan Interior Minister Muhammad Hanif Atmar and his
Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik had held talks on
finalising an extradition treaty and an agreement for the
exchange of prisoners.
A spokesman for the Afghan President confirmed on
Sunday that Karzai had called for the handing over of senior
Taliban leaders during a recent meeting in Kabul with Pakistan
Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 22:31