The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai on Wednesday pledged better cooperation in fighting terrorism, which Musharraf said was "destroying both our countries."

In a brief news conference after their first meeting in four months, they said their talks had been helpful in finding ways to rein in the Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who have flourished along their mutual border.

Both men have accused each other in the past of not doing enough to stop Islamic militants, particularly in the rugged tribal border region that has been in the international spotlight since the September 11 attacks on the US.

But in an apparently warm atmosphere before Musharraf was to host a state dinner for Karzai, he underlined the need for intelligence cooperation with Afghanistan to fight the militant threat.

He said the neighbours had to stop "this menace of extremism and terrorism which is destroying both our countries" and called on their respective intelligence agencies to work hand-in-hand.

"We have developed a strong understanding of each other's problems," Musharraf said. "The key to enhancing our capability against terrorists and extremists is intelligence cooperation."

Both nations are pivotal allies in the US-led "war on terror" and get substantial US aid aimed at fighting militants -- but both have also seen a sharp increase in violence this year.