The trilateral meeting underscores Afghanistan’s peace talks with the Taliban and Israel’s threat to attack Iran in the spring of this year. For Pakistan the trilateral mechanism that began in 2009 is important as it provides a platform to resolve issues like enhancing effective border control, cooperation against terrorism, organised crimes and drug trafficking.

Both the Afghan and Iranian leaders arrived in Islamabad on Thursday to hold the trilateral talks, which were scheduled for Friday following a joint press conference on the same day.

In the joint press conference, presidents of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan agreed to enhance cooperation between all three countries.

Addressing the joint conference President Zardari said that the relations with Iran cannot be undermined by international pressure as Pakistan and Iran depend on each other.

On the issue of terrorism Zardari said, drug money is the common source of funding terrorism.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stance on regional security, Zardari said, “Divided we fall, together we stand.”

In his address and to a question, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said, the distance between Kabul and Islamabad is not too vast.

Iranian President Mahmood Ahmedinejad said that the trilateral summit will have fruitful results as it aims to resolve issues.

Regional issues come from outside, said the Iranian president, and added, “We will not allow anyone to interfere in the region.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012