Karzai, Kayani hold talks on Taliban, border security

Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday met with Pakistan?s army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, for talks on defence and security matters as the neighbouring countries both battle a Taliban insurgency.

Karzai was in Pakistan on a two-day visit, his second trip since re-election last year, to seek greater support from Islamabad for a reconciliation process with the Taliban.

A security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the two men discussed the ?security situation in the border areas? and agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation against the militants.

The meeting was held in the prime minister?s palace in Islamabad, about 20 kilometres from Rawalpindi, where the army?s headquarters and Kayani?s office are located. The meeting came a day after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan was ready to extend intelligence cooperation with Afghanistan to deal with the deteriorating security situation.

Pakistan was suspected of covertly supporting the Taliban despite being an ally of the United States in the fight against terrorism.

Its intelligence agencies exercise influence on the militants, whom they nurtured during their struggle against Soviet forces in the 1980s.

The Afghan leader, who arrived Wednesday, said both countries were up against a common enemy and should intensify efforts to secure the common interest of peace in the region.

Karzai also met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who hosted a dinner in his honour. Karzai said that the day would soon come when both countries were ?at peace and prosperity.? Gilani said both countries had turned a new page in relations and were committed to increase trade from the ?current $2 billion to $5 billion dollars by 2015.? Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a trade agreement in July to aid the transit of goods between the two countries.