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Pakistan to Host Tripartite Meeting
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Pakistani
President Pervez Musharraf will chair the meeting.
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KABUL,
May 22 (News Agencies): The capital city of Pakistan will be the scene
of hectic diplomatic activity towards the end of the current month
when Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov and Interim Afghan
Prime Minister Hamid Karzai arrive in Kabul to attend a tripartite
meeting. President Musharraf will chair the meeting, Pakistani News
Service (PNS) reported.
Informed
diplomatic sources confided to PNS in Kabul that the proposed
tripartite conference to be held May 29-30 would enable the
leaderships of three important countries to review latest developments
in the region, impact of the U.S.-led war on terror on the region and
prospects of peace returning to Afghanistan and the surrounding
Central Asian States.
These
sources said the conference is being held on an initiative of
President Pervez Musharraf who is keen to eliminate the menace of
international terrorism from the region and uproot it from Pakistan.
It
was during the last visit of Karzai that Musharraf floated the idea of
holding such a conference to bring different countries of the region
closer in achieving these objectives.
The
interim Afghan premier has informed the visiting Pakistani delegation,
headed by Federal Minister Labour Awais Ghani, that he was keenly
awaiting the conference that would provide a forum to address the most
burning issues confronting the participating states in particular and
other countries of the region in general.
The
sources said that respective foreign offices of the participating
countries were hectically involved in preparing the conference agenda
that would focus on fighting international terrorism and review of the
measures being taken by them.
All
three heads of state will lead high-level delegations that will look
into areas of future cooperation among them. The question of
resumption of trade links is also expected to figure prominently
during the two-day conference.
When
asked, a Pakistani diplomat informed this correspondent that there is
a possibility that the forthcoming tripartite talks will pave the way
for holding a conference of all countries of the region, including
Iran.
Visiting
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi is likely to convey to
Pakistan his country's concern over developments in Afghanistan.
However, it could not be confirmed if Iran is expected to be included
in the proposed tripartite meeting. Diplomatic circles have been
tight-lipped on this issue.
Karazai
has already visited Pakistan twice after becoming interim leader in
Afghanistan. During his stay, he expressed great goodwill for Pakistan
as far as his government was concerned. He also dispelled the
impression that the majority of his ministers were anti-Pakistan. He
also expressed his appreciation of Pakistan's efforts in re-building
the war-torn country and relief goods sent by President Musharraf,
including edible items and medicines.
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