Obama says Pakistan, Afghanistan working with US to battle terrorist groups

Obama: Pakistan, Afghanistan fighting terrorists

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan are cooperating in the effort to defeat al-Qaida and its terrorist allies.

The president met Wednesday at the White House with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s Asif Ali Zardari.

Obama says the three nations are cooperating in new ways to fight terrorism and to improve the lives of Pakistanis and Afghans.

The president says the governments must cooperate in fighting insurgents who control parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan and “deny them the space” to threaten local residents or Americans.

He says Karzai and Zardari recognize the seriousness of the threat.