Turkey hosts Pakistan-Afghan talks (The three countries to hold joint military exercises in April)

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

Three countries to hold joint military exercises in April, agree to cooperate on anti-narcotics operations.
Last Modified: Dec 24 2010 17:02 G.M.T.

Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan will hold joint military exercises as part of efforts to build trust between Kabul and Islamabad, the Turkish President said on Friday.

The manoeuvres will be staged in April 2011, said President Abdullah Gul. He gave no further details.

Gul made the announcement at the end of a fifth round of Turkish-sponsored talks between the Pakistani and Afghan Presidents, aimed at reducing tensions over militant attacks along the countries' border.

The presidents of the three countries oversaw the signing of several agreements at the summit, including one on anti-narcotics cooperation between police forces.

The three also agreed to hold a regular video conference.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/12/201012241303321628.html

[Turborama]

1. AFP: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey to hold joint drills

ISTANBUL: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey will hold joint military exercises next year as part of Ankara’s efforts to bring its two troubled neighbours closer.

“As a result of the work that our armed forces have done so far, a joint exercise will be held in April 2011,” Turkish President Abdullah Gul said in televised remarks. Gul was speaking after trilateral talks with his counterparts Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan in Istanbul.

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Gul said the three countries’ interior and foreign ministers as well as intelligence and military officials also held separate cooperation talks as part of the gathering in Istanbul. “We are happy to see that important progress has been made,” he said.

On Thursday, Karzai and Zerdari attended a summit in Istanbul of the Economic Cooperation Organisation, a 10-member regional grouping aimed at boosting trade links, which includes also Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey and Central Asian states.

Full article: http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/24/afghanistan-pakistan-turkey-to-hold-joint-drills.html