Leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan Hold Talks - New York Times

Leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan Hold Talks - New York Times: "September 6, 2006
Leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan Hold Talks
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 12:57 p.m. ET

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Key U.S. allies Afghanistan and Pakistan must join forces to fight the ''common enemy'' of terrorism and extremism being fanned by al-Qaida and Taliban militants, Pakistan's president said Wednesday.

But visiting President Gen. Pervez Musharraf also said Pakistan would never allow U.S.-led coalition forces -- currently hunting al-Qaida and Taliban fighters on the Afghan side of the border -- into tribal areas on its side.

''On our side of the border there will be a total uprising if a foreigner enters that area,'' he said at a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. ''It's not possible at all. We will never allow any foreigners into that area. It's against the culture of the people there.''

The leaders held talks on counterterrorism Wednesday amid the deadliest surge in insurgent-linked violence in five years.

The meeting came a day after Pakistan's government and pro-Taliban militants signed a peace agreement aimed at years of violent unrest on the Pakistani side of the porous border with Afghanistan. Under the deal, the militants are to halt attacks on Pakistani forces"