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Musharraf addresses Afghan jirga | Musharraf addresses Afghan jirga |
(30 minutes later) | |
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has addressed a "peace jirga" in Afghanistan, calling for a better mutual trust between the two countries. | Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has addressed a "peace jirga" in Afghanistan, calling for a better mutual trust between the two countries. |
Gen Musharraf said both countries had to work together to "defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism". | Gen Musharraf said both countries had to work together to "defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism". |
Addressing tribal leaders from both nations, he spoke of the need to reach out to those who backed the Taleban but were not necessarily extremists. | |
Afghan-Pakistani ties been strained over the resurgence of the Taleban. | Afghan-Pakistani ties been strained over the resurgence of the Taleban. |
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says the presence of Gen Musharraf at the jirga was a major boost for the gathering after he missed the four-day event's opening session on Thursday. | |
Our societies face a great danger [from] a small minority that create violence and backwardness General Pervez Musharraf | |
Gen Musharraf adopted a conciliatory tone at the gathering and spoke of the strong ties between the two countries. | |
He said the rise of militancy in the region was hampering efforts to improve prosperity while the rest of Asia forged ahead. | |
Gen Musharraf acknowledged that Pakistan's tribal regions harboured Taleban support and he pledged to prevent these elements from creating trouble. | |
Estranged citizens | |
He 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." | "These forces are disrupting peace and harmony, impeding our progress and development." |
He said the two countries had to "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". | |
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 denies this, pointing out that it has arrested senior militants 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. |
class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6940842.stm">Regional views on jirga | |
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. |
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". |