Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, arriving in Kabul today for a two-day trip, told his counterpart Hamid Karzai the two countries must join forces to fight the “common enemy’’ of terrorism being fanned by al-Qaeda and Taliban.
Musharraf also said Pakistan would never allow US-led coalition forces into tribal areas on its side.
“On our side of the border there will be a total uprising if a foreigner enters that area,’’ he said at a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. “It’s not possible at all. We will never allow any foreigners into that area. It’s against the culture of the people there.’’
The meeting came a day after Pakistan’s government and pro-Taliban militants signed a peace agreement aimed at years of violent unrest on the Pakistani side of the porous border with Afghanistan. Under the deal, the militants are to halt attacks on Pakistani forces in the North Waziristan region and stop crossing into Afghanistan to attack US and Afghan forces.
Musharraf warned that he would not allow the area to become a terrorist sanctuary.
“Any militant activity will be addressed with force,’’ he said.
Other Pakistani officials also said Pakistan remains committed to hunting down Osama bin Laden.
“Pakistan is committed to its policy on war on terror, and Osama caught anywhere in Pakistan would be brought to justice,’’ army spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said.
Musharraf said the two neighbours were battling the triple threat of al-Qaeda, the Taliban and “Talibanisation’’ of society. “We have to fight Talibanisation, which is more a state of mind and needs a different strategy.’’
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