Afghan President Hamid Karzai is to visit Pakistan amid increased violence in both countries which are close allies of the US in the fight against terrorism, according to dpa. Karzai is to arrive Wednesday in Islamabad, where he will meet with his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mohammed Mian Soomro, the foreign ministry said Monday. Karzai, on his first visit to the neighbouring country after the state of emergency was lifted there, would discuss the fight against terrorism and other issues of mutual interest, the statement said. Islamabad and Kabul have been at loggerheads over the cross-border infiltration of Taliban militants, who have waged a bloody insurgency against Afghan and international forces in the country since the fall of their government in late 2001. Afghan officials have always claimed that leaders of Taliban and their al-Qaeda associates have safe havens in restive tribal areas of Pakistan, and have accused Islamabad of not doing enough to stop the Taliban infiltration into Afghanistan - a claim Pakistan vehemently denies. There has been a sharp surge in Taliban-led violence both in Afghanistan and Pakistan this year, notably in the use of suicide attacks. There have been more than 140 such attacks in Afghanistan this year, while Pakistani Taliban also carried out a spate of suicide bombings in key cities of Pakistan. After a chilly relationship between Karzai and Musharraf for months, both met with US President Gorge W Bush in the White House in September 2006 and agreed to hold a joint peace Jirga, or assembly, in a bid to strengthen their relationships. A Jirga involving the tribal leaders from both countries was held in Kabul from 9 to 12 August. Although attended by both presidents, it ended without any breakthrough. Participants decided to hold a similar one in Pakistan, the date for which has yet to be announced. Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Advisor for National Security Council Zelmai Rasoul and Finance Minister Anwarulhaq Ahadi will accompany Karzai on his upcoming trip to Islamabad.
