US, Afghans & Pakistan ready to fight against Terrorism

United States – Washington: On Thursday Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States agree to fight a common threat of terrorism, they plan to put a new strategy in the face of sharp differences boil below the surface.

Hillary Clinton the Secretary of States said the three countries would hold a usual discussion after she met in Washington with the South Asian neighbors’ foreign ministers for talks she called "valuable and unprecedented."

The Secretary of States said, "Our three nations have a common goal, a common threat and a common task. And my government commits itself to our friends and to the success of this common endeavor," The Secretary of States said. She added the next trilateral talks were set tentatively for late April or early May.

Barack Obama the US President has declare a new focus on fighting a resurgent Taliban and Al-Qaeda in in Pakistan’s lawless border area region “Safe Heaven” and is sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan as his administration winds down the US involvement in Iraq.

Mohammad Rahim Wardak the Afghan Defense Minister said, "We can expect 2009 to be a critical year and we should be prepared for the challenges and yet we are optimistic to turn the tide in our favor." "We still lack sufficient forces and equipment to hold our gains and to facilitate good governance and development.

"The requirements of our national security forces are urgent and undeniable," he added.

The three-way meeting comes as relations sharply improve between Afganistan  and Pakistan after civilian Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari took over last year from former army chief Pervez Musharraf.

Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy to the region, has voiced dismay after Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire with pro-Taliban militants in Pakistan’s Swat Valley in a deal that includes the imposition of Islamic sharia law. But Pakistan defended the deal, saying it neutralized the threat of extremists by meeting local concerns.

Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, said that while he strongly supported the new Zardari government, nuclear-armed Pakistan remained a top worry for Afghanistan as it fights militants. He added "If Pakistan becomes a failed state; it is a serious threat for you, for us and for the entire region."

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan wanted the United States to consider ending US drone attacks inside the country that have killed militants but also civilians, inflaming local opinion. He added "We get the sense from this administration that they are really willing to listen to us."