After nearly two hours of one-on-one and delegation level talks at the presidential palace, the two Presidents emphasised that both the countries needed to trust each other in dealing with the twin menaces. "We have extremely useful meeting that will lead to very positive outcome and results," Musharraf told reporters with President Karzai after formal talks on the first day of his two-day visit to Afghanistan.
President Musharraf is accompanied by First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf, ten federal ministers, three Ministers of State, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission and other officials. Musharraf said mutual trust was essential if the deadly insurgency in Afghanistan was to be quelled. "The only course left is to have trust - kill mistrust, don't blame each other. "If we carry on the course of accusations and counteraccusations, we will never achieve peace and we will never be brothers."
The two Presidents held one-on-one meeting that lasted for about 80 minutes before they were joined by their respective delegations. President Musharraf said that he had come to Afghanistan with a mission to strengthen relations with Afghanistan "a mission to iron out any possible misperceptions between us so that we follow the path, which is naturally ordained by geography, linkages of common faith and culture".
President Karzai described the talks as fruitful, which would help remove "obstacles" effecting ties between the two countries. The two leaders covered the entire gamut of bilateral ties, especially the problem of terrorism facing the two countries and the co-operation to combat the menace, besides ways and means to strengthen trade and economic ties.
During the talks Musharraf told his counterpart about Pakistan's concerns and sensitivity with regard to Afghanistan's soil being used against Pakistan. He said this was Pakistan's sensitivity and concern and he shared his views with President Karzai. "I want to say when we call each other brothers, we must mean it in our minds and hearts. We must be very careful about the sensitivity of a brother."
The President said he and President Karzai clarified both their concerns and added that he was sure the two sides would look into it in totality. President Karzai while responding to a question on the issue said that, he was aware of the nature of relationship between Pakistan and India and that his country was extremely sensitive of this question.
"Afghanistan will not allow any foreign consulate to work against Pakistan because such an activity means, working against Afghanistan," he said while adding that Afghanistan by the experience of past 27 years of invasion, miseries and interference recognised that Afghanistan need the best of relations with Pakistan.
Musharraf underscored that it was important for Pakistan and Afghanistan to have brotherly relations. "It is imperative that we have brotherly relations. It is the dictate of the situation. There are no two options but there is only one option to have brotherly relations between our two countries."
He said brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan go beyond the two countries and have its impact on the entire region-South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia.
"The inter-connection of this region for mutual prosperity progress and development, integration of this region for trade and economic activities, for energy resources, inter-connectivity is the future of this entire region," the President stressed. However, the President said it was only possible if Pakistan and Afghanistan had nothing but brotherly relations.
"I have come with a deep feeling that we have no other option but being brothers," he added. On the bilateral side, the President said the two countries have to strengthen economic ties, trade, joint ventures and investment. "We need to look into the social sector, how to cooperate for our mutual benefits. Sky is the limit."
Musharraf also called for joint efforts to fight the scourge of drugs that faced both the countries. "There are issues which we both face and through co-operation we can address these issues," he added.
However, the President described terrorism and extremism as the key obstacles in the way of co-operation in trade, commercial and other areas that had to be removed and added that the both countries had to fight these problems.
He said both Pakistan and Afghanistan have seen turmoil since 1979, and now after 9/11, the two countries were seeing the scourge of terrorism. "It was and is still in the form of al Qaeda. It has taken shape of Taliban and Talibanisation. We have to fight both," he added.
Later, President Musharraf has expressed the confidence that his visit, exchange of views with Afghan President Hamid Karzai will reinforce mutual understanding and further strengthen and expand bilateral ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Wednesday.
The President said Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoy very especial relations, which is unique. They have shared history, common faith and culture and there is fellow feeling among our people, he added. The President noted with satisfaction that under the leadership of President Karzai, Afghanistan was emerging out of the deep shadow of unfortunate past and Afghan people have shown remarkable resilience. President Musharraf said Pakistan desires to see a strong, stable and prosperous Afghanistan which is also in its interest.