KABUL, July 24: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met on Sunday for talks to strengthen security and trade ties against a backdrop of rising violence along their common border.

“Terrorism knows no borders,” Mr Aziz told a press conference here after the two-hour meeting, echoing Mr Karzai, who said the two countries were like twins and that a blow against one would hurt the other equally.

“We have suffered in the past three months at the hands of terrorism, attacking our mosques, our schools, our clergy, our candidates for elections, our women and children,” Mr Karzai said. “The same has happened in Pakistan.”

Neither gave details of what security cooperation measures they discussed in their meeting.

Both leaders were upbeat about cooperation, papering over cracks in bilateral ties in an escalating war of words about border security as Afghanistan approaches parliamentary polls.

Mr Aziz said the two countries shared a common heritage and destiny and that Pakistan would “not be found lacking” in providing security for Afghanistan’s September 18 elections.

Pakistan now had a record 80,000 troops sealing the border and trying to prevent extremists crossing back and forth, he said.

“Pakistan believes that a strong, stable, vibrant Afghanistan is good for its neighbours ... and for the region,” he said at the presidential palace.

In recent weeks Afghanistan has suffered a string of attacks against US troops, civilians and reconstruction workers, with more than 770 people, most of them alleged militants, killed in political violence this year.

On a more positive note, bilateral trade had boomed and was expected to top one billion dollars this year, Mr Aziz said.

“It’s a win-win for both countries,” Mr Aziz told reporters as he unveiled a $100 million aid grant to refurbish Afghan schools and hospitals. Pakistan had given another $100 million assistance when President Karzai had assumed office in 2002.

Mr Aziz also announced the building of a short rail link between Chaman and Spin Boldak. He said goods landing in Karachi and eventually at the Gwadar Port would be delivered to Spin Boldak in a very short time, once the train tracks were laid.

Pakistan and Afghanistan also decided at the meeting to increase the frequency of air flights between the two countries.

The two countries already have Islamabad-Kabul flights while the proposed increase would have flights on Quetta-Kabul and Peshawar-Kabul routes which, the prime minister said, would contribute to increasing interaction between their civil societies.

An agreement to promote private sector investment in the two countries was also signed.

“The agreement would help to create an enabling environment for Pakistani investors to invest in Afghanistan and vice versa,” Prime Minister Aziz added.

Afghan Commerce Minister Hidayat Amin Arsala and Adviser to Prime Minister on Financial, Economic, Revenue and Statistics Affairs Dr Salman Shah signed the agreement.

FORMER KING: Prime Minister Aziz also called on former Afghan king Zahir Shah and discussed Pakistan-Afghanistan ties and measures being taken to make the relationship more beneficial and strong.

“We have common challenges of security and there is a need of further cooperation to face these,” the prime minister said.

He said Pakistan was proud to be a part of reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and the two countries could enhance cooperation in economic and other fields to promote bilateral relations.

He said there was also need to face challenges posed by the Western media against Islam. He called for initiating joint efforts to remove the misperceptions and promote interfaith harmony. He said Afghanistan could play a very important role in projecting the true image of Islam.

The former king said Afghanistan needed to emulate the example of Pakistan to progress in many areas. He complimented Prime Minister Aziz for pursuing a prudent economic policy, leading to unprecedented growth rates.

The prime minister invited the former king to visit Pakistan and conveyed greetings from President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

On arrival in Kabul, the prime minister was given a warm welcome. President Karzai received him at the Presidential Palace for the formal welcome ceremony.

The chief ministers of the NWFP and Balochistan, federal ministers for foreign affairs, interior and tourism, Pakistan Muslim League Secretary-General Sayed Mushahid Hussain and other officials accompanied the prime minister.

—Agencies