Karzai, Musharraf hold talks on fighting militants, other issues

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan pledged during an unusually cordial meeting to share intelligence and tighten border controls to quash rising militant attacks. Talks between the two leaders - who frequently argue over the source of cross-border attacks - came amid a wave of violence in Pakistan blamed on local Islamic extremists in the largely lawless border region. A suicide bombing during a prayer service at a mosque Friday killed 56 people and an attack on a military convoy in the area Sunday killed nine. "People from both the countries are suffering under the hands of extremism and terrorism," Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said at a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday evening. Karzai was to conclude his two-day visit on Thursday after holding talks with local business leaders and investors on promoting economic cooperation between the two countries. He was also expected to meet with Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.