Ankara seeking new talks between Afghanistan, Pakistan

Turkey has launched a diplomatic initiative to bring together Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss their problems, and to revive the Ankara Declaration process. Under the initiative, Deputy Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu has been holding talks this week in Afghanistan. Sinirlioglu delivered a letter from President Abdullah Gul to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and conveyed a proposal for a trilateral summit among Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan. After Afghanistan, he is expected to proceed to Pakistan. Afghanistan responded positively to the summit proposal, and is expected to suggest a date for the meeting in the coming months.