Afghan, Pakistani leaders agree to tackle Taliban

PHOTO

Pakistani President Zardari (R) shakes hands with Afghan President Karzai at the Presidential palace in Kabul. [AFP]

Last Updated: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 11:16:00 +1100

The presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan have met in Kabul where they have agreed to jointly cooperate in the fight against Taliban militants.

Relations between Kabul and Islamabad, both United States allies, have been strained by border disputes in the past.

However, relations have improved in recent months with the arrival of the new government in Pakistan.

Speaking on his first visit to Kabul as president, Asif Ali Zardari says Pakistan is ready to fight side by side with Afghanistan against the resurgent Taliban.

He has told his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, the two neighbours need international help, but could do the job better themselves than outsiders could.

In the past, Afghan officials have often accused elements in Pakistani state agencies of helping the Taliban.