KABUL, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan hopes that the resignation of Pervez Musharraf as Pakistani president will help strengthen democracy and civilian government in Pakistan and Islamabad will expand its cooperation in fighting terrorism with Kabul and international community, a foreign ministry spokesman said here Monday.

　　"We wish that a stable and democratic Pakistan will have positive impact on Afghanistan," Sultan Ahmed Baheen told Xinhua during a telephone talk.

　　Musharraf announced "retirement" from presidency earlier in the day during a nationwide television speech.