Afghan, Pakistani, NATO generals discuss border security

KABUL, (AFP)

The heads of the Afghan and Pakistani armies, and the commander of the NATO force in Afghanistan, met in Kabul Friday to review efforts to fight insurgents straddling the border.

One of the main topics of the Tri-Partite Commission meeting was the establishment of centres along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier to improve intelligence-sharing, the NATO-led force said in a statement.

One centre has already been established near the Khyber Pass that links the countries and around three others are planned, an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman said separately.

A larger Joint Coordination Centre is also envisaged "to disrupt terrorist activity at the borders and will require the joint effort of all military forces along the border," ISAF Captain Kevin Callahan said in the statement.

The commission brings the Afghan and Pakistani militaries together every few months, with ISAF as a mediator, to improve border relations.

Afghan General Bismullah Khan Mohammadi, Pakistani General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and ISAF commander US General David McKiernan also signed a charter to formalise their commitment to the commission, ISAF said.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have been at loggerheads over the rising number of Taliban militant attacks on either side of their border.

Kabul has been joined by its international partners in calling for Islamabad to take more action against militant bases on the Pakistani side.