UNITED NATIONS - Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday stressed that the military surge - as planned by the Obama administration - should go hand-in-hand with a political surge in a bid to stabilise the war-torn country. Ban, just back from Washington after talks with President Barack Obama, said additional US troops would be helpful in view of the "fragile and volatile" situation in Afghanistan. At the same time, what was needed was en effort to engage the Afghan government and political factions as well as the international community. There was also need to facilitate cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that President Asif Ali Zardari had developed good relations with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzari. "I welcome the fresh thinking and focus by the new US administration," referring to the review being carried out by the White House of US Afghan Policy. "But any military surge, I emphasised to President Obama, must be accompanied by a political surge," he added. President Obama, in a New York Times interview last week, echoed numerous administration and US military officials in suggesting that the United States seek negotiations with "reconcilable" Taliban elements. However, Ban Ki-moon refrained from specifically mentioning the Taliban by name in the Afghan peace process, saying all factions should be engaged. At the same time, he also called for improving the governance in Afghanistan, especially controlling the rampant corruption. Meanwhile, the Dutch government will host a ministerial meeting on Afghanistan on March 31. "Afghanistan is at another crossroads," he said. "This conference offers an opportunity to define a common way forward."