Istanbul: The Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan meet in Turkish-sponsored talks here Monday to discuss closer cooperation against Taliban insurgents and improve ties poisoned by the insecurity plaguing their rugged border.
The meeting between Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan comes days before a London conference aimed at promoting Afghanistan's development, where the Afghan leader will unveil a plan to pay off the insurgents.
Turkish President Abdulah Gul will host the Istanbul summit, that will also be attended by military and intelligence chiefs from Afghanistan and Pakistan. A joint declaration is expected to be issued at the end of the meeting.
Gul met Karzai in a face-to-face meeting earlier Monday and was to hold a similar meeting with Zardari before the three leaders opened the summit. There were no press statements.
The Istanbul meeting is the fourth round of fence-mending talks since 2007 held under the auspices of Turkey, the sole Muslim member of NATO which is using its traditionally close ties with both countries to mediate.
Ties between Kabul and Islamabad have been strained as Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions became a stronghold for extremists who fled Afghanistan after the US-led invasion toppled the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001.
Afghanistan says much of its insurgent violence, including attacks on US and NATO soldiers, is planned in Pakistan, and has accused its neighbour of not doing enough to curb the militants.
Afghan and US officials suspect Pakistan's powerful military is sponsoring the Afghan Taliban, preparing for the day US troops leave so Islamabad can exercise influence over a Taliban government to offset regional superpower India.
On Tuesday, Gul is also hosting a gathering in Istanbul of countries neighbouring Afghanistan to discuss ways to help the war-ravaged country achieve stability, security and prosperity.
The meeting will be attended by Karzai, Zardari and senior officials from Iran, China, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, a Turkish government official said.
Several countries and international organisations will send observers, among them British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
The meeting aims to encourage countries to tackle problems in their own region, rather than giving the lead to the West, and underline the need to back up the military struggle against the Taliban with economic and social measures, the official said on condition of anonymity.
"There cannot be a more important strategy than winning the minds and hearts of the Afghan people," he said. "Sometimes drilling a simple water well, for instance, can be more valuable in the eyes of the people than a costly project."
Turkey has some 1,700 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and takes part in several restructuring projects as well as a role in training Afghan police.
In a meeting late Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed with Karzai on providing three-month training course for Afghan police and military, a news agency reported.
Following the Istanbul meetings, Karzai will fly on to Berlin and then to London for a major international conference that will focus on fighting corruption, improving security, achieving good governance and reconciliation with Taliban fighters.
At the gathering, Karzai will present an ambitious Western-backed reconciliation package aimed at tempting fighters away from their Taliban masters by offering money and jobs to draw them back to civilian life.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, January 25, 2010, 18:12