Afghans, Pakistan to cooperate against terrorism

Potsdam, Germany, May 30 (Reuters) Afghanistan and Pakistan vowed today to deepen cooperation between their governments ''at all levels'', particularly in the fight against terrorism and repatriating Afghan refugees.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations all said they needed to act together in joint operations to stamp out terrorist bases.

''They further committed to continue supporting moderation, fighting all forms of extremism and terrorism, including its financial, training and ideological centres through mutually agreed and coordinated action,'' the statement said.

The statement was issued after a meeting between Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, his Pakistani counterpart Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri and the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, the United States, Italy, France, Japan, Canada and Russia.

Before meeting with their G8 counterparts, the Afghan and Pakistani foreign ministers met alone to discuss ways of sealing and stabilising the countries' long and porous border.

More than 1,300 civilians have been killed in violence in Afghanistan in the past 16 months, the bloodiest period since U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in 2001.

Afghanistan and the United States have accused Pakistan of not doing enough to prevent the flow of Taliban militants and suicide bombers into neighbouring Pakistan.

Pakistan says it is doing its best but needs help moving refugees out of border zones and into Afghan interior regions.

Pakistan says many militants are recruited in refugee camps though Afghanistan says most are non-Afghan foreigners.

The statement said the G8 pledged to assist ongoing efforts to repatriate Afghan refugees in Pakistan and to ease the conditions of refugees in Afghanistan.

The G8, Afghanistan and Pakistan also pledged to combine forces to combat drug trafficking and organised crime.

Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of the world's opium, the key ingredient for heroin.

The statement said the Afghan and Pakistani ministers committed ''to strengthen cooperation and dialogue between their countries at all levels'', particularly regarding security and refugee issues.

Kasuri told reporters after the meeting that he was very pleased with the statement, especially because it mentioned the issue of refugees. Spanta also said he was pleased.

REUTERS RS KP2150