ISTANBUL, Dec 4: President Asif Ali Zardari arrived here on Thursday to attend the second trilateral summit with Turkey and Afghanistan. The summit aims to enhance Afghan-Pakistan cooperation and promote efforts for peace in the region.

Turkey, which has close relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been pushing for better ties between the two countries. It played a key role in bringing the two countries closer by arranging meetings between their heads of state at a time when tension was high between the two countries.

The Turkish presidential office said in a statement the summit would contribute to region’s stability and development by consolidating solidarity between the three countries.

A joint working group at the level of foreign secretaries met here on Thursday to prepare recommendations for the summit to be held on Friday.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was to arrive here on Thursday night.

He left Kabul in the evening accompanied by Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta and National Security Adviser Zalmai Rasool.—Agencies