Turkey to host Afghan, Pakistan leaders at third round of talks in April

The talks between Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan will specifically focus on security issues and efforts to fight Islamist extremists in the region, diplomatic sources say.

Next month's meeting will be the third round of talks in a move to bring the two neighbors closer.

Turkey had brought the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan together at tripartite summits held in 2007 and 2008 in the talks aimed at reducing tensions over militant attacks along the countries’ lawless border. Both meetings ended with pledges to step up cooperation against extremists.

The sources told Anatolian Agency that executives of the intelligence units and chiefs of general staff of both countries are also expected to attend the summit to be hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul at the presidential palace.

Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions became a stronghold for hundreds of extremists who fled Afghanistan after the U.S.-led invasion toppled the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001.

Afghanistan says much of its insurgent violence, including attacks on U.S. and NATO soldiers, is planned in Pakistan, and, along with the United States, has accused its neighbor of not doing enough to stop militants crossing the border to carry out attacks.

Pakistan rejects those accusations and says more than 1,500 Pakistani troops have been killed at the hands of Islamist extremists since 2002.

Drawing on its traditionally close ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, Turkey hopes it can encourage the two neighbors to resolve their disputes peacefully.