Pakistan prime minister pledges support for new Afghan president

(Reuters) - Looking to overcome years of mistrust and hostility between their two nations, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the new Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, promised on Saturday to boost security and trade ties.

The two neighbors have accused each other in the past of harboring anti-government Taliban insurgents across their shared border, and bilateral relations were often tempestuous under the previous Afghan president, Hamid Karzai.

But less than two months after taking office, Ghani is paying his first state visit to Pakistan, and the warm words used by himself and Sharif at a joint news conference suggested both sides were making a conscious effort to reset relations.

"We have overcome obstacles of 13 years in three days," said Ghani. "We will not permit the past to destroy the future."

Sharif, who was elected last year in a landslide win, called Ghani a "dear brother" and said the two nations had signed agreements to improve train and road links, increase trade and explore defense, border and energy cooperation.  Read More