Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Friday assured interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai of Islamabad's full backing for Afghanistan and vowed his country would not interfere in its neighbour's affairs.
Musharraf gave his complete assurance and said, "Pakistan will remain with Afghanistan in all its endeavours to improve the lot of Afghanistan.
"Pakistan is extremely interested in having a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan as its brotherly neighbour," he said at a joint press conference with Karzai.
The Afghan leader is on his first official visit to Pakistan, his former home-in-exile, since taking over as the leader of Afghanistan's six-month interim government.
Pakistan is deeply distrusted by many Afghans for its support of the now-ousted Taliban regime, but Musharaff said the two leaders agreed not to allow their territories to be used against each in future.
"We wish to conduct our relations with Afghanistan based on principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and mutual interest."
Pakistani troops are not welcome in Afghanistan but Islamabad has offered to cooperate with logistics support for the International Security Assistance Force and the planned reconstruction effort.
In addition to $100 million already pledged towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Musharraf Friday added another $10 million for the "cash flow needs" of the war-ravaged country.
Bureau Report
