Afghan President Hamid Karzai addresses the opening remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, 23Jan2008

"I am sure that the events of the past few weeks in Pakistan have caused tremendous distress in many corners of the world,” Karzai said. “It seems like the mutant of extremism is dangerously unleashed across the region. By all indications, the wildfire spread of terrorism across our region bodes terribly badly for the whole world."

Karzai cited a series of attacks in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the December assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

Karzai called on governments in the region to stop using extremist politics to pursue their interests, and to take meaningful steps to destroy militant recruitment networks and financing.

Karzai has held talks in Davos with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about NATO's role in combatting extremists in Afghanistan.

Rice also held talks at the conference with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.