Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan FMs to hold talks

Islamabad, Jan 16, IRNA - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will join his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts in a trilateral foreign ministers meeting in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss regional peace and security.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the meeting will discuss the rebuilding of war-hit Afghanistan and regional security issues, with special focus on moot on Afghanistan in London, officials said.

The trio will adopt a joint strategy for the London conference to be held later this month.

The meeting is likely to discuss agenda for the next trilateral summit, officials said.

Mottaki, his Afghan counterpart Rangeen Dadfar Spanta and Pakistani FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also discuss regional security issues, their possible solutions, campaign against terrorism and narcotics and bolstering of trilateral cooperation.

The ministers will also touch on ways for closer cooperation among the three countries.

Sources said that Iranian Foreign Minister will also call on President Asef Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during his stay in Islamabad.

The trilateral meeting has assumed importance in view of the cooperation and understanding of the three important regional countries./end