Musharraf addresses Afghan jirga

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Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has addressed a "peace jirga" in Afghanistan, calling for a better mutual trust between the two countries.

Gen Musharraf said both countries had to work together to "defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism".

Addressing tribal leaders from both nations, he spoke of the need to reach out to those who backed the Taleban but were not necessarily extremists.

Afghan-Pakistani ties been strained over the resurgence of the Taleban.

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says the presence of Gen Musharraf at the jirga was a major boost for the gathering after he missed the four-day event's opening session on Thursday.

Our societies face a great danger [from] a small minority that create violence and backwardness General Pervez Musharraf

Gen Musharraf adopted a conciliatory tone at the gathering and spoke of the strong ties between the two countries.

He said the rise of militancy in the region was hampering efforts to improve prosperity while the rest of Asia forged ahead.

Gen Musharraf acknowledged that Pakistan's tribal regions harboured Taleban support and he pledged to prevent these elements from creating trouble.

Estranged citizens

He told an audience of about 700 tribal leaders from both countries: "Our societies face a great danger [from] a small minority that create violence and backwardness.

"These forces are disrupting peace and harmony, impeding our progress and development."

He said the two countries had to "work together until we defeat the forces of extremism and terrorism".

Gen Musharraf also spoke of the need to reach out to Afghanistan's "estranged brothers and sisters".

Both countries are allies of the US and say that they want to quash terrorism, but many Afghan officials accuse Pakistan of harbouring Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters.

Islamabad denies this, pointing out that it has arrested senior militants and is battling its own Taleban threat in its tribal areas.

<a class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6940842.stm">Regional views on jirga</a>

However, tribal elders from Waziristan, the Pakistani region from which much of the instability stems, refused to attend the peace summit.

They said that without Taleban representatives present at the talks no solution could be found.

Opening the peace summit on Thursday, Mr Karzai said Afghanistan must work with Pakistan to defeat Islamic militants, telling delegates of their "common destiny".