Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday played down a row with neighbouring Pakistan over efforts to fight cross-border terrorism, calling only for continued cooperation.

Abdullah, visiting Malaysia to seek greater business investment, acknowledged Pakistan had contributed "a lot" to the fight against militants blamed for a surge of attacks in his country.

Pakistan has "arrested many members of Al Qaeda which, had they not been arrested, they would have been a problem for Pakistan, and they would have been a problem for Afghanistan, and for stability in our region," he told a press conference.

"But I think we need to continue to work together in order to overcome this problem," he said.

"Has there been cooperation? Yes. Do we need to continue our cooperation in this field? Yes, of course."

Blamed on foreigners

Abdullah's comments come amidst calls from Kabul for Islamabad to clamp down on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents who are accused of operating from hideouts across the border. Pakistan has rejected the charge.

They also follow a string of recent Iraq-style suicide car bombs which Afghanistan has blamed on foreigners.

In the latest attack on Sunday a suicide car bombing in Kabul targeting Hazrat Sebghatullah Mujadidi, the leader of Afghanistan's upper house of parliament, left four dead including two bombers.

Mujadidi, who survived the attack, has reportedly blamed the bombing on Pakistan's secret service, but Abdullah refused to address the allegations.

"There is no doubt that terrorists are behind these things. In anything on the specifics of it, of course once the investigation is done, the official position of the government will be said," he said.

He was speaking at a joint press conference with Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Regulations reviewed

Abdullah, who also said the security situation had improved in Afghanistan over the past four years, earlier told a gathering of Malaysian business leaders that his country had worked to lure investors.

"All the laws and regulations were reviewed and a business-friendly environment for investment, for trade, was provided there," he said.

Opportunities lay in Afghanistan's natural resources, including its minerals and gas and oil sectors, and in the hospitality sector, he said.

Syed Hamid, also present at the seminar, issued a plea for businesses to look beyond reports on insurgent attacks.

Abdullah, who arrived Monday evening from the United Arab Emirates where he also sought investment, is due to meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday before leaving for the United States on Thursday.