ISTANBUL: President Asif Ali Zardari arrived here Thursday to attend the second trilateral summit, aimed at enhancing cooperation and forging closer ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to discuss efforts to bring peace to the region.

The Turkish Presidential Office in a statement said the summit was aimed at contributing to region’s stability and development by consolidating the solidarity between the three countries.

As part of preparatory efforts for the summit on Friday, the Foreign Secretary level Joint Working Group met to prepare recommendations for the meeting of the heads of states of the three countries.

The Joint Working Group discussed collaboration at various levels in training on security, counter-terrorism, drugs and organised crime besides discussing feasibility studies for joint projects identified by Pakistan and Afghanistan with the assistance of Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA).

The Istanbul Forum formed by the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) with similar institutions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, held separate deliberations and discussed the projects to be carried out jointly by Turkish, Afghan and Pakistani private sectors.

President Zardari during his brief stay in the country will also hold separate meetings with President of Turkey Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Prime Minister Erdogan will also host a luncheon in honour of President Zardari on Friday.

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