Ankara to host third Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistani summit today

Ankara will host a third Turkish-Afghan-Pakistani trilateral summit today to discuss the problems between the other two countries and the future of the region, and to find solutions to rising security concerns in the region. The summit will be hosted by President Abdullah Gul at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai will attend the summit, along with foreign ministers, chiefs of staff and senior intelligence officials from their countries and Turkey. "The main purpose of the meeting is to strengthen solidarity among the three countries and help stability and development of the region," the Presidential Press Office said yesterday. The office also said that the three leaders will exchange views on joint projects to contribute to peace, stability and welfare in the region. In an attempt to help reconcile the two neighbors, Turkey hosted the first trilateral summit in April 2007, followed by a meeting last December.