Meeting of the Prime Minister of Pakistan with the President of Afghanistan - 2004-01-13

Zafarullah Khan Jamali, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, returned to Islamabad after discussions with Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, regarding border security issues and the fight against terrorism. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Karzai stated that the meeting was a sign of strengthening political and economic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mr. Jamali also mentioned that Pakistan has implemented new security measures along the border to prevent the infiltration of Islamic militants into Afghanistan. He further stated that Pakistan and Afghanistan will work hand in hand to combat terrorism. Meanwhile, Afghan government officials reported that during an attack by a group of Taliban insurgents on a remote police checkpoint in Nimroz province, four police officers were killed. Last month in Pakistan, a police officer and about 20 others accused of involvement in the failed assassination plot against President Pervez Musharraf were arrested. General Musharraf has attributed the two assassination attempts against him last month to Islamic extremists.