Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan have expressed their determination to continue the dialogue process and consultations, particularly with regard to urgent issues of common concern. According to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the trilateral summit of the three countries, hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Istanbul, the three countries reaffirmed their resolve to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, which constitutes a crime against humanity.
The leaders condemned heinous terrorist attack on Burhanuddin Rabbani and said it was also targeted against the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. Afghanistan and Pakistan also agreed to establish a co-operation mechanism to contribute to national investigations regarding the death of Burhanuddin. This mechanism of co-operation will begin work at the scene of the attack, the joint statement added.
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan will work in close co-ordination as per their respective laws. The summit expressed confidence that contacts between high level military and security organisations and intelligence services would contribute to efforts to combat terrorism and extremism. Contacts and co-operation among all institutions, security institutions would be increased, the three countries agreed.
The joint statement hoped that protocols signed on the occasion would enable transform the common will to cooperate in concrete projects. Foreign Ministers of the three countries would form a commission to elaborate ways to enhance the co-operation and consultations.
The three countries expressed intention to hold the second joint meeting of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commissions of the three countries in the first half of next year. The summit decided that within the framework of the trilateral process, the Joint Natural Disaster Response Simulation Exercise will be organised this month with the participation of experts of the three countries.
Relevant institutions of the three countries would cooperate in the field of emergency management, said the joint statement. The three countries recognised the efforts of Turkey for holding this trilateral summit that provided a comprehensive platform for furthering high level political dialogue, security co-operation and development partnership among the three countries.
The trilateral summit also emphasised the need that dialogue and co-operation among all levels of public and private sector institutions including parliamentarians, military, intelligence, and security organisations, as well as media, and civil society within in the framework of the Ankara Process, should be continued. The three countries were also convinced of the value of improved regional co-operation as an enduring way to address common challenges through regional ownership.
The three countries also welcomed "The Istanbul for Afghanistan-Security and Co-operation in the Heart of Asia", being hosted by Turkey here on November 2. The Trilateral Summit among Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan was convened by Turkey for the sixth time as the summit process was started in 2007 on the initiative of President Abdullah Gul.
The Trilateral Summit process has evolved a dynamic process where multi-dimensional co-operation possibilities are elaborated and nurtured into concrete projects that would be for the benefit of the peoples of the three countries and that of the region.
The sixth summit took place at a time when most of these areas of co-operation and mutual support proved to be of high relevance. The three countries agreed to have security issues at the core of the event. Alongside the Summit, three additional high level meetings took place among ministers of interior, Chiefs of Staff and heads of intelligence agencies of the three countries.
Three countries also decided to form a commission under the chairmanship of Ministers of Foreign Affairs to elaborate confidence building measures (CBMs) to enhance their co-operation and consultations. They also agreed to increase contacts and co-operation among all institutions including the security institutions. The summit concluded with the signing of two important documents, namely 'Protocol on Conduct of Mutual Exercise and Courses' and the 'Protocol on Training Co-operation', while Turkey and Pakistan also signed a 'Currency Swap Agreement' on the occasion of Trilateral Summit.
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