Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan summit kicks off in Ankara today

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan resolve disputes and focus on enhancing conciliation between the two countries. The minister made the call, late on Tuesday, in a bid by Ankara to break ice in bilateral relations between the two Asian neighbors on eve of the Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Tripartite Summit, due to kick off here later on Wednesday, under Turkish patronage. The summit, due at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, groups Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Afgan President Hamid Kharzai, their Turkish counterpart Abduallah Gul, a number of officials from the ministries of foreign Affairs, security and defense from the three countries. Davutoglu, in remarks aired late on Tuesday by CNN-turkey, called upon his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts to overcome disputes that have deepened since Pakistan accused its neighboring nation of masterminding an assassination attempt of Afghanistan's Intelligence Chief Asadullah Khalid. The reconciliation between the two neighboring countries should not be affected by the botched assassination bid, he affirmed. The latest summit at this level was held amid tension in the Pakistani=Afghan relations following assassination of the Afghan leader Burhan al-Din Rabbani -- which Kabul accused Islamabad of plotting. This is the 6th summit gathering the three countries since 2007. It is held to discuss outstanding issues between the two neighbors, like enhancing security on borders, fighting radical armed groups which launch attacks on both sides of border.