"Everyone in this part of the world should recognise that for the first time since Partition, India, Pakistan and the US face a common threat and a common challenge and we have a common task," he said.

Acknowledging that there was "history" between India and Pakistan as well as between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said "but now as we face a common threat, we must work together."

He said the US is "working intensively with our friends in Pakistan to achieve a common goal. That is what we are doing. We know it's going to be difficult but the national security interests of all three countries are clearly at stake." Noting that Pakistan is at the centre of the common fight, Holbrooke said, "What happens in Afghanistan is profoundly affected by what happens in Pakistan and the two issues are deeply inter-related."

He voiced concern over the peace deal between government and Taliban in Swat region of Pakistan and said the worries had been "further raised" after terror attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team and police training centre in Lahore.

"What has happened in Swat has stunned many people in Pakistan," the Special Envoy said, adding "everyone in this part of the world should recognise what's happening."

Holbrooke said during his visit to Pakistan he had met some people from Swat to "learn more" about the peace deal and observed that "it was a difficult and touching meeting".

He described Baitullah Mehsud, chief of Pakistani Taliban as "a terrible man" and "a great danger to Pakistan, Afghanistan ... He (Mehsud) is as bad as any bad actor in a very dangerous region."

... contd.