Pakistan pledges to fight Uzbek terrorists
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-07 09:37

Pakistan's president on Sunday said he would not permit Uzbek extremists to use his nation to launch attacks on Uzbekistan and signaled his readiness to extradite any alleged Uzbek terrorists captured there.

Islamic groups linked to al-Qaida have targeted Uzbekistan, Central Asia's most populous nation, where more than 50 people died in attacks last year. One group, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, is believed to have found shelter in Pakistan's largely lawless border areas.

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, left, and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov are seen during a joint news conference in Tashkent Sunday, March 6, 2005. During his two-day visit to Uzbekistan, Musharraf will meet with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional security and joint steps against international terrorism, the Foreign Ministry said. [AP]

Visiting Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf signed an agreement with Uzbekistan on fighting terrorism.

"I have assured President (Islam Karimov) that Pakistan will not allow the use of its soil by any terrorists from Uzbekistan ... and we will act against them," Musharraf said during a visit to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.

Musharraf mentioned the possibility of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, and the two leaders also discussed ways to bolster their nations' economic ties and develop transport and communications links. Landlocked Uzbekistan hopes to use Pakistani sea ports as a trade gateway, Karimov said.

Pakistan has long planned to build road and rail links with Central Asian states and a pipeline to carry gas from Turkmenistan, but instability in Afghanistan has blocked the projects.

Musharraf also expressed interest in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security group that includes Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

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