ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to tell US special envoy Richard Holbrooke that the planned military surge in Afghanistan should coincide with increase in development and political activities in the war-torn country.

This was decided during talks between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Afghan counterpart Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta here on Friday.

“It is hoped that the military surge in Afghanistan would be coupled with political and development surge,” a statement issued by Foreign Office quoted Foreign Minister Qureshi as having told the Afghan foreign minister.

Mr Holbrooke is likely to be in the region next week to review the situation for developing a regional strategy.

The two countries’ seriousness may be gauged from the fact that the foreign ministers also discussed the possibility of a visit by President Hamid Karzai to Islamabad ahead of Mr Holbrooke’s arrival.

Mr Qureshi stressed the need for holding talks with “moderate forces” and said the use of force alone would not address the challenge of terrorism.

He welcomed the introduction of a moral dimension to US foreign policy and its campaign against terrorism and said: “Dialogue with moderate forces and engagement with reconcilable elements is important in controlling the spread of extremism and militancy.”

The two leaders also decided to let Pakistan take up the issue of reconstruction opportunity zones in tribal areas.

The foreign ministers agreed that specific doable projects would be presented to donors at the third Regional Economic Conference on Afghanistan to be co-hosted by Pakistan and Afghanistan in the first week of April in Islamabad. It is likely to be participated by 300 officials from 20 regional countries, G8 countries and international organisations, like the United Nations, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Economic Cooperation Organisation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

MISSING DIPLOMAT: Pakistan also reassured the Afghan minister and his team that efforts would be stepped up for quick recovery of the kidnapped Afghan ambassador-designate to Pakistan, Mr Abdul Khaliq Farahi. It is learnt that the Afghan foreign minister was also assured that fresh information about the case would be shared with his country.

INDIAN WHEAT: An Afghan source claimed that Pakistan had agreed to permit the transit of Indian wheat to Afghanistan via land route.

The wheat would be transported under Pakistan government’s supervision and the Afghan government would bear the cost. Foreign Minister Spanta also called on President Asif Ali Zardari.