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Musharraf to address Afghan jirga Musharraf addresses Afghan jirga
(about 2 hours later)
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai are due to address the final session of a "peace jirga" in Kabul. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has addressed a "peace jirga" in Afghanistan, calling for a better mutual trust between the two countries.
An audience of 700 tribal leaders from both countries will hear from the leaders who met at the presidential palace before going to the conference. Gen Musharraf said both countries had to work together to "defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism".
Correspondents say there was disappointment when Gen Musharraf did not attend the jirga's opening session. He told the Kabul conference of the importance of reaching out to those Afghans who supported the Taleban but were not necessarily extremists.
Bilateral relations have been strained over the resurgence of the Taleban. Afghan-Pakistani ties been strained over the resurgence of the Taleban.
Gen Musharraf told an audience of about 700 tribal leaders from both countries: "Our societies face a great danger [from] a small minority that create violence and backwardness.
"These forces are disrupting peace and harmony, impeding our progress and development."
He said the two countries must "work together until we defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism".
Gen Musharraf also spoke of the need to reach out to Afghanistan's "estranged brothers and sisters" and acknowledged that Pakistan had a part to play in this.
Both countries are allies of the US and say that they want to quash terrorism, but many Afghan officials accuse Pakistan of harbouring Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters.Both countries are allies of the US and say that they want to quash terrorism, but many Afghan officials accuse Pakistan of harbouring Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters.
Islamabad has strongly denied the charge, pointing out that it has arrested several senior militant leaders and is battling its own Taleban threat in its tribal areas. Islamabad denies this, pointing out that it has arrested senior militants and is battling its own Taleban threat in its tribal areas.
Jirga boostJirga boost
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says the jirga is set to issue a statement calling for the elimination of terrorism.The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says the jirga is set to issue a statement calling for the elimination of terrorism.
It will also call on the Afghan government to reach out to the Taleban whilst also recommending that more is done to promote economic development in the border region. class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6940842.stm">Regional views on jirga It will also call on the Afghan government to reach out to the Taleban whilst also recommending that more is done to promote economic development in the border region.
Our correspondent adds that Gen Musharraf's presence will be a boost to the jirga. He adds that Gen Musharraf's presence was a boost to the jirga.
Regional views on jirga
"Pakistan is very hopeful that this jirga will contribute to establishing peace in these areas... We believe that stability and peace in Afghanistan is of vital importance to Pakistan," Pakistan foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told AFP news agency.
Hundreds of delegates from both countries have been discussing the difficult question of the burgeoning insurgency by the Taleban and other rebels on both sides of the border.Hundreds of delegates from both countries have been discussing the difficult question of the burgeoning insurgency by the Taleban and other rebels on both sides of the border.
However, tribal elders from Waziristan, the Pakistani region from which much of the instability stems, refused to attend the peace summit.However, tribal elders from Waziristan, the Pakistani region from which much of the instability stems, refused to attend the peace summit.
They said that without Taleban representatives present at the talks no solution could be found.They said that without Taleban representatives present at the talks no solution could be found.
In the past 18 months relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated.In the past 18 months relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated.
Opening the peace summit on Thursday, Mr Karzai said Afghanistan must work with Pakistan to defeat Islamic militants, telling delegates of their "common destiny".Opening the peace summit on Thursday, Mr Karzai said Afghanistan must work with Pakistan to defeat Islamic militants, telling delegates of their "common destiny".