Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday called for a regional effort to fight terrorism, saying only with the help of Pakistan can the threat of further militancy be defeated.

Security forces in both India and Afghanistan are battling Islamic militants who are allegedly backed by Pakistan, which lies between them.

Joint statement

Karzai and Singh also called for closer ties

between the three countries to boost trade. India and Afghanistan have long urged Pakistan to open up a trade corridor through its territory, which would also speed the delivery of much-needed Indian aid.

Pakistan has, however, linked this to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inspect a guard of honour in Kabul after the latter's arrival in Kabul on a two day visit Sunday

Text: Daniel Cooney, AP | Photograph: SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images