Afghanistan, Pakistan calls for a joint effort to fight terror

Kabul, Aug 12 (UNI) President Pervez Musharraf today acknowledged that Pakistan's territory was used to provide support to the terrorist elements operating in Pakistan and admitted that his government had a responsibility to end this.

He, however, called for an end to the atmosphere of mutual distrust and suspicion saying his government had no desire to destabilise or work against Afghanistan.

Musharraf, who had stayed away from the inaugural session of the jirga, endorsed the working of the jirga in a joint appearance with President Karzai at the closing ceremony of the four-day Afghanistan-Pakistan peace jirga.

While much of the sentiment expressed at the jirga was a reiteration of old rhetoric, the significant difference was the inclusion of non-state actors in endorsing these steps.

The jirga adopted a joint declaration resolution that provided for the first time a non government endorsement of steps to close down terrorists training camps and sanctuaries. It called for a continuing war against terror.

Both the countries called for mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non interference in each other's internal affairs.

The Executive Secretary of the jirga, Farooq Wardak said the jirga had been extremely successful, the first ever trust building exercise between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Minister for Urban Development Yousaf Pashtun said the jirga had brought both the governments closer to a more realistic appreciation of the problems.

The jirga appointed a smaller jirga or jirgagai which will hold regular meetings and ensure implementation of the recommendations.

The jirgagai, comprising of 25 members of each country has also been asked to expedite the ongoing process of national reconciliation and with the opposition.

Asked if the opposition include the Taliban Abdullah Abdullah, the former Foreign Minister and a senior jirga member said it included all those who were not reconciled and a more proactive approach would be taken towards this goal.

UNI