KABUL, June 15 (Pajhwok Afghan News): President Hamid Karzai has said his country is keen to cooperate with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and wants the forum to concentrate on fight against terror and drug menace in the region.
Delivering a speech at the SCO summit on Thursday, the president said it was the collective responsibility of countries in the region to join hands against terrorism, organised crimes, menace of drugs and arms.
"Afghanistan wants to strengthen cooperation with the SCO members, particularly in the fight against terrorism and extremism and is ready to be part of those efforts," said a statement quoting the president.
Expressing his government's resolve to fight drugs production and smuggling, Karzai said they were committed to eliminate the menace but it needed time, means and strong support from the international community. He said farmers, who cultivate poppies, were getting nothing while the real beneficiary was the international mafia.
Referring to Afghanistan's membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Afghan president said his country could play the role of a bridge between members of SAARC and SCO.
"With our membership in the SAARC, Afghanistan will turn into a bridging point between member countries of the SCO and SAARC," the statement quoted President Karzai as saying.
Karzai said Afghanistan was grateful to its neighbours and members of SCO for receiving its message of friendship with positive response over the past four years. "I am confident that continuation of this friendship will prove beneficial in creating a safer world and contribute to long-term peace and prosperity of our people," the president said.
Meanwhile, Hamid Karzai met his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the SCO summit on Thursday. Pakistan, Iran and India are attending the conference as observers.
Pakistan's official wire service reported that a wide-range of issues pertaining to mutual interests, including promotion of trade and economic cooperation, were discussed during the meeting.
The two leaders reviewed the ongoing cooperation in various fields and pledged to further consolidate their partnership on bilateral and regional levels.
by/dk
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