Afghan President Hamid Karzai. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
President Karzai spoke to Nawaz Sharif ahead of his visit to Pakistan for talks on counter-terrorism and to push for reconciliation with the Taliban.
The visit has been agreed to on by both sides, who are working on mutually feasible dates through diplomatic channels.
“Terrorists and the enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan did not show respect to the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr,” Karzai said, referring to the attacks in Quetta and the eastern Afghan city Jalalabad while talking to the Prime Minister by the phone, the Afghan presidential palace said.
“Terrorists targeted even women and children during the sacred days and many families are now mourning the deaths of their relatives,” Karzai said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif agreed with President Karzai’s assertions that both neighbouring countries were facing a similar enemy.
“Cooperation and efforts by the two countries and their people is the only way to defeat and eliminate the enemy,” the Afghan Presidential statement quoted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as saying.
Both leaders agreed to cooperate to fight the common enemy and will back each other in these efforts, said the Pashto-langue statement received on Saturday.
President Karzai also greeted the prime minister on Eid-ul-Fitr.
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@US Centcom: Dear Centcom, To my knowledge nobody invited you into the Western side of the Sub-Cobtinent so who are the real terrorists? Also, how may people have you killed during Ramadan?
We cannot over emphasize the importance of shared cooperation between the regional partners. We are fighting the same terrorists and suffering at the hands of the same terrorists. The seriousness of the situation requires us to work together against our common enemies. Our common enemies are not wasting any time in countering our peace efforts in the region. They continue to claim innocent lives in their bid to destabilize the region. They did not show any respect for the holy month of Ramadan and even continued their terrorist activities’ during the Eid-ul-Fitr Celebrations. It is important to note that these attacks were conducted on both sides of the border. So, does it make sense to indulge in the blame game when we are making common sacrifices? It only makes sense for us to create a healthy partnership and combine our strength against those who pose a threat to the safety of our nations.
Ali Khan
Agreed. Finally someone with a glimpse ground realities @A J Khan:
nice, who told u that story? I hope u haven't been living in a cave, cuz that is just SAD @ModiFied:
Pakistan, Afghanistan face common enemy; Karzai. :p
Sorry, my comment was directed at Alann, not Rabbani.
@Indian: why cant u indian just stay away of pakistan's issue and look into ur own deteriorating problems
he hasnt got much time left to take one way flight back to usa i dont know why we even bother to portray him in mainstream media
For a moment it seemed like this article actually said it as it was - pakistan and Afghanistan face a common enemy.....Karzai !
YES. & it is us(india)
Dear Mr. Karzai, You should have thought of the of the post American period when you collaborated with the Americans and the Norther Alliance to defeat the Taliban.
Its hysterical how one accuses another of being an 'American puppet' yet have been surviving off the same country's alms in the form of aid. What a damn shame..
@Rabbani: Hey man, stop telling us we hate Afghanistan. We don't!!! I am a Muslim. Afghans are Muslims. I am a Pakhtoon (36 million in Pakistan) and speak Pasto.there are 13-15 millions Pakhtoons in Afghanistan and they speak Pashto. We speak the same language and eat the same food (Pakhtoons). Same culture and customs. What have you in common with Afghanistan?
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan face common enemy, which is Pakistan.
............And that enemy is none other than Karzai - The Puppet - himself.
Karzai needs to be more specific on the "common enemy" cliche and should have said that Afghanistan and Pakistan face common problem as terrorism. Afghanistan's "enemy" is in no way Pakistan's enemy.
I just read this as Pakistan and Afghanistan have a common enemy: Karzai. Made sense that way too.
Yes and it is corrupt politicians
Another American Muppet
Envoy Khan - once upon a time we had common problem, and then U-TURN - I don't know we have problem or not.
there is a mistsrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan( because of their covert activities)
Hello ! Is anyone really listening to you ! Your reputation is not great either, even if you have a valid point, as the state of affairs during your tenure has been overwhelmed by issues related to corruption on massive scale, and no doubt that your future residence is likely to be back in the USA or Dubai !
Oh Yeah, some one should ask him then why does he not go after these terrorists who commit atrocities in Pakistan specially in Swat,Dir and Bajuar areas and then go hide in Afghan side. Pakistan has demanded time after time to hand over those terrorists but he never takes any action because he thinks that it is in the interest of Afghanistan and it's allies namely India to keep the pot boiling and pressure Pakistan for concessions. It seems to me he is the biggest problem in the way of peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Just ask the Americans about him and his corrupt government.
The title of the article appears as if Karzai is the common enemy. Certainly his grubby family and friends stole hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars. They made a mockery out of this past golden opportunity to better Afghanistan. Karzai better watch out. It's not just the insurgents who want him in jail or worse. Many people despise this American puppet. Thanks for nothing, Bush cronies, like Khalilzad, the low level NSA employee who all of a sudden becomes ambassador to Islamic countries. Now he thinks he is a statesman. Laughable stuff.
This is not the first time that Afghan President has said to Pakistan's President and Prime Minister that "Afghanistan face common enemy", but on the contrary, Afghan Government always accuse Pakistan whatever bad happens in Afghanistan.
Unless Afghan Government will not accept that Pakistan is a sincere and peaceful next door neighbor, I doubt that Pakistan can play its active role in the Afghan peace process.
After the Soviet War was over, Pakistan has practically shown to Afghanistan that it is a true friend by accomidating countless Afghan Nationals, who have not only become Pakistani Nationals, but have set up big businesses in Pakistan and have availed every facility which was available for Pakistani Nationals.
The unfortunate part of Afghan leadership is that Afghan Government is not serious to have peace in Afghanistan, otherwise the foreign aid flowing to Afghanistan will stop with the passage of time..
@Rabbani: Mr Paetta also told Pakistan to cut its support to the Haqqani Network, Has Pakistan taken on them? Pakistan is no Saint after OBL found inside your garrision. You exposed Pakistan to the world.
i agree on that with karzai we have common enemy terrorism,usa,india infiltration
@N
Those people cannot exist in our country without support from poor Karzai. Check statement of Panetta that he made before Senate Intelligence Committee. He declared that for some reasons known best to Afghan Army, no operations are conducted in Nuristan and Kunar provinces (prime training and recruitment centers of TTP) by it. Ain't that a little strange, huh?
So Rabbani - a staunch supporter of Pakistan and hater of India & Afghanistan - is indirectly supporting Afghanistan's claims on the land where TTP and other terrorists hide, which Pakistan claims as its own.
Yes and it is "YOU"
Yet, Mr Karzai you have the audacity to blame Pakistan for your own troubles. You must not give shelter to TTP and other terrorists in your country.
He should have called and greeted kayani rather than Nawaz shareef.
did he say pakistan's 4 times war enemy afghanistan's friend?
Our common enemy are the Afghan Refugees who are involved in terrorism on both sides of the border. These refugees frequent both sides with support of UNHCR & are involved in all the crimes.
Only Russia is backing up Karzai...Obama is opposing him. So in a strange twist, Obama is pro-Taliban ?
Certainly the terrorism is common enemy. However, the epicenter and backers of terrorism, all are in Pakistan. Afghanistan can hardly do anything as enemy lives and operates from Pakistan.