Zardari, Karzai agree to fight terrorism and extremism jointly

Kabul, Jan 7 (ANI): Afghanistan and Pakistan have a 'new relationship' and have expressed a determination to defeat terrorism and extremism jointly, President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai said after talks in Kabul.

Zardari is making his first official visit to Afghanistan since assuming office in September 2008.

"We intend to work towards a better tomorrow," he told a joint press conference.

"Afghanistan and Pakistan have a new relationship," Karzai added.

"We hope that this friendship achieves what is desired by both nations - a strong fight against terrorism, terrorism is defeated and is forced out, extremism is defeated," he said.

"We want to tell the world today, together, standing shoulder to shoulder, that we are together in this fight against these non-state actors who have taken nations, countries and in fact superpowers to war," the Daily Times quoted Zardari, as saying.

He said Afghanistan and Pakistan needed international support in their efforts, but "we can look after ourselves".

"We know our terrain, we have the strength, and all we need is the support. So given the proper support, we can do the job better and cheaper and easier than you can do it," Zardari said.

Foreign ministers Rangin Dadfar Spanta of Afghanistan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi of Pakistan earlier signed a declaration calling for a "new visionary chapter" in relations between the neighbours.

In the declaration, the two countries pledged to "closely cooperate with each other as well as with the international community to counter and completely eliminate the menaces of militancy, extremism and terrorism from the region".

Zardari was due to visit Kabul in December, but the visit was postponed because of bad weather. (ANI)