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Bush urges better Pakistan-Afghan cooperation

By Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush urged the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Wednesday to improve cooperation in fighting terrorism as he mediated talks aimed at easing tensions between the two U.S. allies.

Bush spoke as he stood between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who have traded barbs in recent days over who is at fault for security lapses along the rugged border between their countries.

Musharraf held a serious expression, while Karzai smiled slightly during Bush's statement in the White House Rose Garden. They did not shake hands.

"Today's dinner is a chance for us to strategize together, to talk about the need to cooperate, to make sure that people have got a hopeful future," Bush said before dinner with the two leaders.

Musharraf and Karzai have accused each other of not doing enough to combat extremists amid a Taliban resurgence that has spawned the worst violence in Afghanistan since U.S.-led forces toppled the Islamist hard-liners five years ago.

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding in the remote Afghan-Pakistan border area, but Musharraf and Karzai each said he was in the other's country.

They flung similar charges about the location of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, who has eluded a manhunt.

"As we work for a more hopeful world, we will continue to make sure that extremists, such as Osama bin Laden, that wants to hurt my friend here, as well as upset the democracy in Afghanistan, is brought to justice," Bush said, referring to militants' assassination attempts against Musharraf.

Bush emphasized the two leaders faced common challenges and must work together.

Karzai has complained that Taliban fighters carrying out armed attacks inside his country are being sheltered on the Pakistani side of the border.

Musharraf has touted an agreement reached this month with pro-Taliban tribesmen in the North Waziristan region as anti-Taliban. Critics are concerned the pact would allow militants to find refuge in the semi-autonomous region. Continued ...

Source: www.hotnewsbox.com

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