Karzai urges unity against terror

Afghanistan and Pakistan must join hands to fight extremism, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has told the BBC.

The war effort on terrorism, that is for both of us, that's for America, for us, that's for you, it is for the whole of humanity Hamid Karzai

In an exclusive interview with BBC World's Asia Today programme, Mr Karzai also said he would strive to meet the timetable for elections set by the Bonn Agreement.

He also said he hoped to speed up the process that would create a national army and police force.

Mr Karzai told the BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava in Kabul that he was not worried about the Taleban regrouping.

"What is important for us in this region, especially for Afghanistan and Pakistan, [is] to fight terrorism together, to fight it in earnest, to fight it in truth and to finish this menace," Mr Karzai said.

"Afghanistan and Pakistan have to join hands in a strong, strong manner to fight extremism."

The president said the American-led war on terrorism was one being fought on behalf of the whole international community.

"The war effort on terrorism, that is for both of us, that's for America, for us, that's for you, it is for the whole of humanity."

'Arduous' nation-building

Mr Karzai said that internal security was his government's "primary focus" and claimed the intensity of skirmishes between warlord groups had reduced.

"It will take time to build an army and a police force. Now we hope that with the possibility of new US assistance and other countries assistance, this process will be speeded up."

Mr Karzai praised the international community for its help in rebuilding the country, but said nation-building was an "arduous process" and urged governments to contribute more to reconstruction.

On elections, he vowed to meet the deadline set by the Bonn Agreement and the national Loya Jirga for polls by January 2004.

"We will have to go full speed with all the means that we have to reach the deadlines," Mr Karzai said.

"If the day comes that we don't reach it then it should be for a good reason."