Brussels, Dec. 21 : NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are facing the common challenge of terrorism, and the menace can not be effectively dealt with if the countries are seen separately.

He pointed out that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are countering identical challenges so they could not be seen as different.

The News quoted Rasmussen, as saying that NATO’s new strategy to uproot terrorism from the Af-Pak region is based on increased cooperation with Islamabad.

Rasmussen said the U. S-led coalition must emerge victorious in its battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan, otherwise the militant outfit would destabilise not only Afghanistan, but Pakistan as well.

He also warned that Islamabad cannot afford to drop its guard, as there are Al-Qaeda elements in Afghanistan that want to take over Pakistan, which is a nuclear-armed Pakistan. (ANI)