ANKARA: Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan reaffirmed on Thursday their resolve to continue collective efforts and enhanced cooperation to ensure sustainable peace and security in the region.

Addressing a joint press conference here after the eighth trilateral summit, hosted by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, leaders of the three countries expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the summit held in an environment of fraternity.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s “strong and sincere commitment” to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process. “Afghanistan today is at a defining moment in its history. This is time for all Afghans to come together, make peace and rebuild their country,” he said.

He expressed the hope that the Afghan people would overcome all challenges with resilience and perseverance and Pakistan would continue to facilitate the peace process for a peaceful Afghanistan. “Together we are working to build a new chapter in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations,” he said, praising Turkey’s support for building a sustainable peace in the heart of Asia.

This was not only the thematic focus of this summit, but indeed the crux of the collective efforts, he added.

Prime Minister Sharif said his government would continue its efforts to promote good-neighbourly ties with Afghanistan. “It is also clear that such common challenges are best resolved through common endeavours at the regional and international levels. Commonality of purpose creates new opportunities.”

He said that an inclusive political settlement was key to sustainable peace in Afghanistan as well as the whole region.

The three leaders had extensive exchanges during the summit. The region faced formidable challenges, ranging from extremism and terrorism to socio-economic development, he added. “We are very pleased with this outcome (of the summit) and will remain constructively engaged to see our Afghan brothers succeeding and thriving in the months and years ahead,” Mr Sharif added.

Describing Turkey as his second home, Prime Minister Sharif said: “Pakistan and Turkey are bound in a fraternal relationship that has few parallels in inter-state relations. Our strategic partnership is growing by leaps and bounds.”

He lauded Turkish contribution to Pakistan’s education sector and said their institutions were providing excellent and quality education. Asked if the issue of alleged involvement of each other’s state and non-state actors in terrorist activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan came under discussion during the summit, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said it was discussed in detail, but they had not yet found any outcome. But he said the current and historical facts needed to be addressed as Muslims.

About the presence of Mullah Fazlullah in Afghanistan, Mr Karzai said it was a direct consequence of ‘inaction’ and violation of the Afghan territory by Taliban and terrorists.

However, he said that since the process of cooperation moved forward, the two sides would be able to tackle this issue.

Prime Minister Sharif said there were some concerns, but Pakistan and Afghanistan were on the same page. He said the purpose of the summit was to iron out such concerns and “we have been quite successful in addressing these issues.”

The Afghan president said the three leaders had discussed all areas of cooperation between their countries, with focus on security and peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said the three countries would continue their engagement to increase a trusted environment between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mr Karzai said Afghanistan had a very important year ahead in which a complete transition to Afghan security forces and withdrawal of international forces were taking place, besides presidential elections scheduled for April 5.

He said Afghanistan was committed to the trilateral dialogue and expressed confidence that the next Afghan president would follow the process.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said the three countries were jointly striving to maintain peace in the region. He said the summit was aimed at carrying the existing multidimensional collaboration between the three countries, which took its strength from their historic and deeply rooted amity, to the future in a stronger way.—APP