Pakistan hosts summit on counter-terrorism

ISLAMABAD (PAN and Iran on counter-terrorism next week, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The two-day summit to be held on Feb. 16 and 17 in Islamabad, the capital city, would be attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the ministry spokesman, Abdul Basit, told a news conference.

The trilateral meeting was important for the leaders to discuss key regional issues pertaining to counter-terrorism and organised crimes including drug trafficking, Basit said. About US sanctions on Iran, Basit said Pakistan opposed any new conflict in the region and called for dialogue.

The talks come at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the United States, notably over speculation about a possible Israeli attack against Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

It also comes with Afghanistan keen to start peace talks with Taliban insurgents.

To a question in this regard, Basit said they had been initially provided information about the possible peace talks between the Taliban and the US through US diplomatic channels.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday travelled to Qatar to discuss efforts at bringing peace in Afghanistan.

Gilani told reporters at the Islamabad airport before his departure for Doha that he would discuss mutual political and economical relations with the Qatari leadership, but political experts believe Gilani’s visit was aimed at discussing Pakistan’s left out from the US-Taliban talks.

The Afghan Taliban last month agreed to open a liaison office in Doha for peace talks with the US and the international community.

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