Terrorism, a key challenge and hurdle to peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Gul
ISTANBUL - Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Istanbul on conducting joint military exercises. Pakistan and Afghanistan also agreed on setting up a joint mechanism to investigate the assassination of former president Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani. The MoU on military exercises and training courses was signed by Pakistan Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Necdet Ozal and Afghan Gen. Shah Muhammad Karimi on the conclusion of a trilateral summit hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Istanbul on Tuesday.
The presidents of the three countries and high-ranking officials, including military chiefs, later addressed a joint press conference, but briefly discussed the agreements.
A protocol on training cooperation was inked among Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, his Turkish counterpart Idress Naeem Shaheen and Afghan Minister Bismillah Khan Muhammadi.
Gen. Karimi said the first joint military exercise would be conducted in Turkey next year. He added the militaries would share their experiences under a training cooperation program.
Military officers and soldiers would receive training on combating terrorism and dealing with emergency situations in urban areas. He said the militaries would share their expertise on the subjects.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul told reporters Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to establish a joint mechanism for investigation into the assassination of the high peace council chief in order to find out the truth.
He said the mechanism would be followed by the creation of a joint foreign ministerial commission. Gul added Turkey was also ready to help the investigation process.
Referring to the assassinations of Rabbani, Karzai's brother Ahmad Wali Karzai and Pakistan's two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Gul said the neighboring countries were victims of terrorism.
The Turkish president said terrorism remained a key challenge and hurdle to peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
President Karzai said the death of Rabbani had disrupted peace talks with the rebels and joint efforts of Afghanistan and Pakistan at bringing peace.
However, he said the trilateral meeting in Turkey once again brought the neighbors closer and gave a new hope to their joint efforts at stabilizing the region. He said their efforts at combating terrorism needed sincerity and devotion.
Karzai said the intelligence agencies of the two countries would take the investigation process forward and would share evidence in this regard. He thanked Turkish leadership for hosting the meeting and expressed his condolences to the victims of a recent earthquake.
Pakistani leader Asif Ali Zardari said terrorism threatened peace and stability in the region, praising Turkey's efforts at addressing the menace. He said preventing militant activities in the region, particularly in Afghanistan, was essential for peace and stability, which needed increased cooperation from the international community.
He said the region was faced with a complex situation and NATO forces in Afghanistan had not been able so far to find a concrete solution to it.