Afghan-Pakistani summit set for today
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 01, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Afghanistan and Pakistan’s presidents will meet for another round of talks under Turkey’s sponsorship today in Ankara. Diplomatic sources said the meeting between Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan would focus on security issues and efforts to fight the Taliban along their volatile border. A declaration is expected to be released following the meeting.
It will be the third such Turkish-sponsored talks aimed at bringing the two feuding U.S. allies closer together to combat the Taliban insurgency that threatens both neighbors Afghanistan and Pakistan. Taliban insurgents based in western Pakistan are blamed for a recent upsurge of violence in southern Afghanistan as well as launching attacks in Pakistan itself.
The Taliban in Pakistan claimed responsibility Tuesday for a deadly attack against a police academy in the country's east. The Afghan and Pakistani presidents were expected to arrive in Ankara late Tuesday.
The meeting will be hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gül at the Presidential Palace and expected to be attended by military chiefs and senior intelligence officials from all three countries.
"At the summit, security in the region, Afghan-Pakistani bilateral relations, their reflection in the region as well as joint projects also participated in by Turkey to contribute to stability, security and welfare in the region," read a written statement released by the presidency yesterday.
Turkey first sponsored fence-mending talks in Ankara in April 2007, was followed by a second meeting in Istanbul in December 2008. Both meetings ended with pledges to step up cooperation against extremists.
NATO can do better
President Abdullah Gül said NATO could do better in Afghanistan, in the article that he wrote for The Wall Street Journal. He criticized the international community for not achieving results that match the significant sum of funds spent. Gül said the region is the new "powder keg" of the world and that the stakes are as high as they can be.
Gül welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama understanding these facts and reviewing U.S. policy on Afghanistan. "Political, diplomatic, economic and social efforts must be increased and focused on consolidating national unity to bring about tangible improvement to people's lives. To have peace, we must win over the people," Gül said.
The Taliban in Pakistan claimed responsibility Tuesday for a deadly attack against a police academy in the country's east. The Afghan and Pakistani presidents were expected to arrive in Ankara late Tuesday.
The meeting will be hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gül at the Presidential Palace and expected to be attended by military chiefs and senior intelligence officials from all three countries.
"At the summit, security in the region, Afghan-Pakistani bilateral relations, their reflection in the region as well as joint projects also participated in by Turkey to contribute to stability, security and welfare in the region," read a written statement released by the presidency yesterday.
Turkey first sponsored fence-mending talks in Ankara in April 2007, was followed by a second meeting in Istanbul in December 2008. Both meetings ended with pledges to step up cooperation against extremists.
NATO can do better
President Abdullah Gül said NATO could do better in Afghanistan, in the article that he wrote for The Wall Street Journal. He criticized the international community for not achieving results that match the significant sum of funds spent. Gül said the region is the new "powder keg" of the world and that the stakes are as high as they can be.
Gül welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama understanding these facts and reviewing U.S. policy on Afghanistan. "Political, diplomatic, economic and social efforts must be increased and focused on consolidating national unity to bring about tangible improvement to people's lives. To have peace, we must win over the people," Gül said.