Karzai, Musharraf pledge to fight terrorism

Karzai (L) and Musharraf hold a press conference in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Frequently calling each other "brother," Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai have promised to wipe out terrorism and terrorist sanctuaries in their nations.

That pledge was made during a one-day visit by Musharraf to Afghanistan on Tuesday, the first by a Pakistani head of state since former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the early 1990s.

Saying he is in Afghanistan in a "spirit of brotherhood," Musharraf said, "We have also vowed that we will not allow each other's countries, ever, to be used against interests of ours."

The Pakistani leader added his government's sole goal in neighboring Afghanistan is to see that country return to normalcy and offered his nation's full support.

"I am extremely glad that I see Kabul in the hands of a leader and a government which is trying to improve conditions in Afghanistan, to bring normalcy back into Afghanistan," he said.

"Our plan is his plan," Musharraf said, referring to Karzai. "We will assist him all the way in whatever he wants to do here."

To assist Afghanistan as it begins to rebuild following half a decade of Taliban rule, Musharraf presented Karzai with a check for $10 million and challenged the rest of the world to ante up.

Closed chapter

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Speaking at a joint news conference after face-to-face talks, both leaders dismissed Pakistan's past ties to the ousted Taliban regime as a closed chapter.

Pakistan cut off relations with the Taliban following the September 11 terrorist attacks and gave its support for the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan.

Pakistan was one of the few nations to recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government and many in the interim administration believe Islamabad helped arm, trade and guide the Taliban -- claims Pakistan denies.

During Tuesday's meeting which Karzai described as "profound all sided discussion", the two leaders conferred on a range of issues including the repatriation of refugees, transit, trade, flights, a joint-fight against terrorism, and a joint commitment to work against narcotics trading and poppy cultivation.

"This visit today will I'm sure further promote the brotherly links between the two countries," Karzai said.

"This visit will also pave the way for the strengthening of economic activity in this region. It will show us to a better more prosperous region."

Bin Laden

The two leaders met in February in Pakistan

Trade between the two neighbors had picked up sharply in the past few months, Reuters news agency reported, with Pakistan exporting household goods, cement, food and some steel and importing items like fruit and carpets.

Musharraf said that he was "extremely glad" that Pakistan and Afghanistan had had several interactions at ministerial level and added that all "is progressing very well."

However, he called on the international community to speed up its reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in Afghanistan.

"That is what will bring real normalcy here bring the refugees in Iran and Pakistan back to Afghanistan ... So that life returns to normal," he said.

On the whereabouts of suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden, Musharraf said all he could offer was a guess.

"He may be dead or alive," the Pakistani leader said, "I don't know, but if you ask my view, maybe he is dead."

In January, Musharraf said he believed bin Laden is dead as a result of kidney disease, but U.S. officials have consistently dismissed the notion, saying their would be more evidence if he had died.