Tension has been high between Afghanistan and Pakistan over recent months. There has been disagreement over how to co-ordinate the battle against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants on their shared border.

Therefore, the two-day visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai is of extreme importance.

At a joint press conference with the Afghan leader, President Musharraf said extremism and terrorism were destroying both their countries.

He added he and Karzai had talked about "the requirement of cooperation on the intelligence side for meeting this menace of extremism and terrorism which is destroying both our countries where people of both our countries are suffering at the hands of these extremists and terrorists."

Ever since the September 11th attacks in 2001, the spotlight has been on Afghanistan and Pakistan -- both considered important allies in the US-led so-called "war on terror". Both governments have often claimed the other is not doing enough to tackle the insurgency.

Bloody year

2007 has been especially bloody in both countries, where suicide attacks have increased significantly, killing hundreds.

Afghan officials have often claimed Taliban militants are being trained in Pakistan and sent across the border to attack Afghan security forces and international troops.

But Pakistan denies this charge. The army has around 90,000 troops in the rugged border region and says that there should be more Afghan and international troops deployed to help.

Presidents Karzai and Musharraf last met in August at a tribal assembly which addressed the threat of Taliban and al-Qaeda militancy.

"Both countries have agreed upon setting up a committee comprising 50 members that will meet to decide upon decisions taken at the last jirga held in August," Shamim Shahid, a Pakistani expert on Afghan affairs explained.

Support for stability

President Karzai told reporters militant activity in Afghanistan was decreasing, whereas it was rising on the Pakistani side of the border.

''Mr. President," he told Musharraf, "Afghanistan and Pakistan are twins. More than that they are joined at the body as much as the walk that they do may be difficult for them to do. But they are together and there is no escape, fortunately, from this reality.'

An Afghan foreign ministry spokesman said Karzai's visit was to show Afghan "support for stability" in Pakistan, which has become the "second victim" of terrorism. He said Afghanistan thinks Pakistan's co-operation in the war against terror should be "stronger" and "more effective".

A Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman said the visit would forge better relations between the two countries.

The Afghan president is also expected to meet the head of Pakistan's interim government as the country gears up to elections in early January. Islamist militants in the restive north-western regions have already threatened to disrupt the elections.