ANKARA (Agencies) - Turkey and Pakistan Wednesday voiced support for initiatives to stabilise conflict-torn Afghanistan, including efforts for dialogue with the Taliban.
Presidents Abdullah Gul of Turkey and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan made the pledges in response to a question on whether Ankara had agreed to host a representation office for the Taliban and whether Islamabad would be ready to help any dialogue process. “2011 is a very critical year for Afghanistan... as the foreign troops will begin to withdraw... We are using all our capabilities to secure Afghanistan’s unity and integrity,” Gul told a joint press conference. “We are doing this in cooperation with Afghan President (Hamid) Karzai and all Afghan authorities... We will be part of any activity (aimed at) making further contributions to secure durable peace,” he said.
He would not comment directly on the possible opening of a Taliban office in Turkey.
Zardari, on an official visit to Turkey, said Pakistan “believes in a peaceful transition and dialogue” in Afghanistan, its western neighbour with whom relations have often been strained over insecurity plaguing their border. “We’ll be facilitators to any format that leads to peace... Whatever needs to be done, Pakistan will be playing a positive role and hoping to facilitate the transition and dialogue,” he said. Zardari and Gul resolved to continue working hand in hand to exploit the vast potential in industrial, energy, communication and infrastructure sectors of their countries to create vibrantly growing economies. Zardari said his visit would add a new chapter of cooperation and engagement between the two countries. During the meeting, the two leaders held detailed discussions on bilateral matters and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Zardari was assisted in the talks by Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Chairman of Board of Investment Saleem Mandviwala.
The President was on his first bilateral visit to Turkey and his earlier five visits to the country were to attend trilateral summits on Afghanistan and international conferences.
The two leaders said that the talks focused on making operational Islamabad-Istanbul-Tehran freight train. Gul said the project would provide a trade route from Islamabad to European countries with goods taking about 11 days to reach Turkish markets. He said the railway track already existed but it needed to be upgraded and both the countries agreed to encourage private sectors to generate funds for the project.
Presidents Abdullah Gul of Turkey and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan made the pledges in response to a question on whether Ankara had agreed to host a representation office for the Taliban and whether Islamabad would be ready to help any dialogue process. “2011 is a very critical year for Afghanistan... as the foreign troops will begin to withdraw... We are using all our capabilities to secure Afghanistan’s unity and integrity,” Gul told a joint press conference. “We are doing this in cooperation with Afghan President (Hamid) Karzai and all Afghan authorities... We will be part of any activity (aimed at) making further contributions to secure durable peace,” he said.
He would not comment directly on the possible opening of a Taliban office in Turkey.
Zardari, on an official visit to Turkey, said Pakistan “believes in a peaceful transition and dialogue” in Afghanistan, its western neighbour with whom relations have often been strained over insecurity plaguing their border. “We’ll be facilitators to any format that leads to peace... Whatever needs to be done, Pakistan will be playing a positive role and hoping to facilitate the transition and dialogue,” he said. Zardari and Gul resolved to continue working hand in hand to exploit the vast potential in industrial, energy, communication and infrastructure sectors of their countries to create vibrantly growing economies. Zardari said his visit would add a new chapter of cooperation and engagement between the two countries. During the meeting, the two leaders held detailed discussions on bilateral matters and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Zardari was assisted in the talks by Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Chairman of Board of Investment Saleem Mandviwala.
The President was on his first bilateral visit to Turkey and his earlier five visits to the country were to attend trilateral summits on Afghanistan and international conferences.
The two leaders said that the talks focused on making operational Islamabad-Istanbul-Tehran freight train. Gul said the project would provide a trade route from Islamabad to European countries with goods taking about 11 days to reach Turkish markets. He said the railway track already existed but it needed to be upgraded and both the countries agreed to encourage private sectors to generate funds for the project.
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