Azerbaijan, Baku, June 6 / Trend , R.Darakhshan /
Islamabad welcomes the Turkish mediation in the Pakistani-Afghan talks, said the representative of the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, Abdul Basit.
"Pakistan is very grateful for Turkey's mediation in the Pakistani-Afghan talks," Basit told Trend by telephone from Islamabad.
The presidents of Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Abdullah Gul, Hamid Karzai and Asif Ali Zardari, as well as the Chief of General Staff and the intelligence services of three countries met in Ankara on April 1 to discuss cooperation in combating terrorism, drug trafficking and in exchange of information between intelligence agencies.
This was the third meeting between the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan through the mediation of Turkey.
Basit described the talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the mediation of Turkey, as a continuous tripartite process.
"In this process, discussions are held on several issues, including security, exchange of intelligence information," said Basit.
He said that during Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu's visit to Pakistan, discussions will focus on development of bilateral relations. Cordial and fraternal relations have been established between the countries, said Basit.
Davudoglu will make a four-day visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan next week, Turkish Cihan news agency reported.
During his visit, Davudoglu will also discuss the situation of internally displaced persons in the country, said Basit. "Turkey is actively providing humanitarian assistance to Pakistan," he said.
Since late April, the Pakistani government has been conducting large-scale operations against the Taliban in the north-west of the country. As a result of fighting, more than 2 million people in north-western Pakistan have been forced to leave their homes.
Basit called the purpose of the visit of U.S. Special Representative Richard Holbrook to Afghanistan and Pakistan to determine the amount of assistance needed for Pakistani refugees.
He said that Holbrook already met with the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister of Pakistan.