Pakistan, Afghanistan, UK vow to work for regional peace, stability

Zardar­i, Karzai and Camero­n discus­s future of Afghan­istan, to work for econom­ic cooper­ation.

NEW YORK: The second trilateral meeting featuring heads of state and government from Pakistan, Afghanistan and UK focused on tackling terrorism in the region and enhancing economic cooperation.

Meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Pakistani President Asif Zardari, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai discussed reconciliation, security and regional security.

According to a handout from the Foreign Office, PM Cameron reiterated UK's commitment "to support Afghanistan and Pakistan in working out solutions for peace and stability in the region and in their quest for the socio-economic development of their people."

The statement said that the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to "work for the goals of regional peace, stability and development and for the elimination of the scourge of terrorism from the region."

Government sources close to the trilateral meeting told The Express Tribune that “Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to work on a formal agreement between the two countries.” The pact is expected to be ready for being signed at UNGA next year. It is expected to come into force at the end of 2013.

It will focus on five sectors: Security, refugees, the Afghan peace process, regional security and the economy.

President Zardari said that Pakistan supports an intra-Afghan dialogue, and an Afghan owned and led-reconciliation.

He added that education, economic opportunities for people of areas affected by conflict and socio-economic development were required to change the environment.

"President Asif Ali Zardari and President Karzai appreciated the constructive role being played by the United Kingdom,” said the FO statement.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Secretary General Salman Farooqi, Ambassador Masood Khan, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, National Security Advisor Kim Darroch, Chief of Staff Ed LLewellyn and Political Director Mark Sedwill.

The Afghan delegation included the Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul and Javed Ludin, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister and Salahuddin Rabbani, head of Afghan High Peace Council also attended the meeting.

The trilateral meeting was followed by a one-on-one meeting between UK Prime Minister David Cameron and President Zardari.

A representative from the Pakistan Mission to the UN told reporters that President Zardari and President Karzai will also have a bilateral meeting in New York on Wednesday evening.