New York: Pakistan and Afghanistan have came under attack from a senior UN official over their war of words over the Taliban issue, who said the two countries must cooperate in fighting the Taliban insurgency in border areas rather than indulging in mutual recriminations.

"Greater action is needed by Pakistan," Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's special representative Chris Alexander told Islamabad, noting that the recriminations had grown louder in the past year.

"Pointing fingers leads nowhere when what we really need, what Afghanistan most needs is constructive engagement and join action to tackle various serious security challenge," he said.

"This war of words, this rhetorical contest between two Governments, between two partners in this region must end, he said adding the truth is that these networks are operating in both Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

Alexander said the UN believed that Pakistan's plans to fence the border would not lead to better security in either country. He also opposed the decision to mine the area.

"The United Nations and most of the countries of the world are convinced that laying land mines is a very serous threat to the human security of the population that live nearby the places where the mines are laid," he said.

"We regret the decision of the Government of Pakistan to proceed with the laying of land mines and we call up on both governments to strengthen their commitment to cooperative solutions to the security problems that this region faces," he said, voicing the hope that Pakistan would in the future avoid unilateral steps.