KARACHI, Oct 18: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called for coordinated efforts by Pakistan and Afghanistan against the “evils of extremism and terrorism that are threatening the well-being of the two countries”.

In a handout issued by its London secretariat, Muttahida Qaumi Movement said on Thursday that President Karzai had sent a letter to MQM chief Altaf Hussain that condemned the “heinous” attempt on the life of Malala Yousufzai and her school fellows.

The letter said the Afghan president prayed for the speedy recovery of the teenaged girls who were injured in the attack.

The MQM statement quoted Mr Karzai as having written: “We must ask why we have been unable to counter terrorism that is attacking our religion, our people and the promise of a better future for our children.”

Mr Karzai said the attack on Malala and similar attacks on Afghan and Pakistani children and schools were part of the strategy “pursued by the extremists and terrorists to doom our future generations to darkness and ignorance. We must fight this”.

The Afghan president said “he was reaching out to brothers and sisters across the political and religious landscape of Pakistan to work with Afghans to guarantee that children — both girls and boys — of the two countries fulfilled their duty to follow the example of Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in acquiring knowledge and learning”.

He also expressed the hope that Mr Hussain would respond in a positive manner to his “invitation for coordinated and collaborative action” between Afghanistan and Pakistan against the evils of extremism and terrorism, the MQM handout said.