ISLAMABAD, April 22 (IslamOnline.net) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called for plentiful support from Pakistan in his venture to establish his authority over the unruly warlords and the “rebellious” elements of his government.

In his two separate sessions of talks with the Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf and the Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali here on Tuesday, April 22, highly placed government sources said, the visiting Afghan President urged the Pakistani leadership to help him establish his authority in the length and breathe of his country.

Karzai who arrived in Islamabad on a two days official visit early Tuesday morning, held one-on-one meetings with Musharraf and Jamali besides holding formal talks with the Pakistani officials.

This is his second visit to the closest neighbor Pakistan since he took charge of Afghanistan two years back.

Karzai is leading a delegation comprising of ministers in charge of foreign affairs, finance, trade and reconstruction.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Jamali following delegation level talks, Karzai said he was assured of continued Pakistani support in the fight against terrorism.

He said the Pakistani prime minister has also offered full cooperation in tracking down the Taliban remnants hiding in Pakistan. They also discussed expansion of trade and economic relations.

But sources privy to the talks between Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart, said the issues discussed behind close doors were different.

Karzai, the sources said, asked his counterpart for Pakistan’s sustained support in dealing with the complex and fluid political situation in Afghanistan.

Despite one and a half years of rule as head of Afghanistan’s interim government, Karzai has not yet been able to exercise full control over his country. Unruly warlords in the rural Afghanistan have not accepted the central authority. Even certain members of his cabinet have been perusing their own political and personal agendas. Karzai is especially wary of his cabinet members belonging to the ethnic Tajik Northern Alliance.

However, Pakistan was apprehensive of the influence exercised by the Tajik elements of the Karzai-led government which outnumbered Pushtuns in the interim and transitional set up in Afghanistan. Only last week Pakistani border guards exchanged fire with the Afghan border forces over a border dispute.

Karzai is facing a presidential election next year and he needs Pakistan’s support for this as Pakistan enjoys influence over various Pushtun tribes and leaders especially those living along the over 1800 kilometers common borders.

Sources said the Pakistani president, who had made the Pakistan’s decade old Afghan policy to take a U turn and abandon Taliban in the wake of September 11 attacks on the U.S., was not as clear as Karzai would have liked him to be while announcing support to him.