Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy

The leaders of Afghanistan and on Saturday praised the new U.S. strategy for dealing with growing violence in their countries, with the Afghan president saying it was "better than we were expecting" and his Pakistani counterpart calling it a "positive change."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai lauded increased civil and military aid to his country and highlighted a plan for reconciliation with moderate elements of the Taliban as the new strategy's most important initiative. He also welcomed President Barack Obama's focus on countering militant sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan in the plan, announced Friday.

"This is better than we were expecting as a matter of fact," Karzai told a news conference.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari promised his country would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism and said the billions of dollars in additional civilian aid for Pakistan under the new U.S. plan endorsed his strategy of fighting extremism with development.

"The U.S. presidency's new approach represents a positive change," Zardari said in a speech to Parliament.