Trilateral summit vows to enhance cooperation

Pakistan‚ Iran and Afghanistan Friday pledged to develop a framework of comprehensive cooperation and to take pragmatic steps for promoting stability‚ peace and shared prosperity in the region.
They vowed to strengthen cooperation for eradicating extremism‚ terrorism and militancy.
President Asif Ali Zardari and his Iranian and Afghan counterparts resolved to ensure respect for sovereignty‚ independence‚ unity and territorial integrity‚ as enshrined in the UN Charter.
They agreed to initiate a process for an agreement pledging not to allow any threat emanating from their respective territories against each other.
The three countries agreed to enhance three-way trade by facilitation measures‚ including preferential tariff and free trade arrangements as well as barter trade.
The Fourth Trilateral Summit would be held in Kabul by the end of this year.
President Asif Ali Zardari said in joint address to media that the relationship between three countries cannot be undermined by international pressure of any kind.
About international pressure on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project‚ President Zardari said Pakistan was lobbying with the world and Pakistan's point of view had been accepted.
He said drug trade worth billions of dollars is going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan has extended full support to the Afghan authorities to deal with the issue.
Iranian President Mehmood Ahmadinejad categorically stated that foreign interference in the region will not be allowed.
He said some countries have targetted our region for their dominance.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the impediments in the way of Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation needs to be removed sooner rather than later. He underlined the need for closer Pak-Afghan relationship.
The Afghan President said that the Summit enabled the three Presidents to understand each other s point of view.
ISLAMABAD: TP MD, Feb 17, 2012
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