DHAKA: Pakistan and Afghanistan pledged to begin a new era of economic cooperation on Saturday, with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani saying three days of talks had ended 13 years of differences.

Ghani and Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif said collaboration on economic and energy issues would form the basis of better security in the troubled region as United States-led Nato combat troops leave Afghanistan after more than a decade of fighting the Taliban, reports The Straits Times.

The two countries have long endured testy relations, with former Afghan president Hamid Karzai regularly accusing Pakistan of supporting Taliban insurgents trying to overthrow his regime.

Pakistan has accused Kabul of not doing enough to shut down bases on its soil for militants attacking Pakistani targets.

The fact that Ghani chose to make Islamabad the destination for his first bilateral visit since taking power in September is seen as an important sign of wanting to improve ties.

The former World Bank economist arrived in Islamabad on Friday, but aides had begun negotiations with Pakistani officials a day earlier.

BDST: 1737 HRS, NOV 15, 2014