Pak, Afghanistan agree to do more for infiltration problem

Islamabad, June 23 (UNI) Pakistan and Afghanistan today decided to remove ''misunderstandings'' on the issue of cross border infiltrations and to further develop mutual trust in the ongoing war against terror by strengthening bilateral mechanism.

''We strongly believe that the bilateral mechanism can be reinforced by ensuring frequent interaction between the two countries at different levels,'' Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri said here at a joint press conference with his visiting Afghan counterpart Rangeen Dadfar Spanta.

The two countries remain engaged in a war of words since early this year on the issue of cross border movements by the puritan Taliban and al-Qaeda operatives. Afghanistan says Pakistan is not doing enough to check such infiltrations.

However, Islamabad, which has presence of over 80,000 troops on the Pak-Afghan borders, rejects the accusation.

Mr Spanta said he believed Mr Kasuri's suggestion would be helpful in removing misunderstandings.

However, he said Islamabad must do more in the war against terror, adding that it is essential to eliminate the mance.

The Afghan minister did not agree with Pakistan proposal to fence the porous Pak-Afghan border saying that it will separate hundreds of families living on both sides of the divide.

Mr Kasuri discussed with him what Pakistan had been doing for the ongoing anti-terror war and promissed that if there were any lapses, they could be on anybody's part.

''Our relations are not difficult..they have been made difficult,'' Mr Kasuri said.

The visiting Afghanistan minister also met President Pervez Musharraf, who assured him that Islamabad wanted peace, stability, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Afghanistan.

UNI XC SK KN2021