PAKISTAN

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia today said it was worried over the activities of al-Qaeda and Taliban in Pakistan and asked the political leadership in that country to unite and ensure that the extremists do not achieve their objectives.

"Pakistan is a friendly country to us. Therefore, seeing any kind of dangerous trend in a friendly country, one is not only sorry but also worried," Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal told reporters here.

It is the duty of all political leaders in Pakistan to unite to see that extremism does not find it way to achieving gains in that country, he said.

The minister was asked whether Saudi Arabia was worried about the situation in Pakistan because of extremism.

He said extremism can only be tackled through a united political leadership in Pakistan. "We hope this is what will be achieved."

Asked about collaboration between al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in the region, he said "there is no relation between Saudi Arabia and Taliban.

"Our relationship was abrogated because Taliban gave sanctuary to al-Qaeda. Since then and till today we have no relations with Taliban. That will give you an indication of how seriously we look at the issue."