Zardari, Erdogan pledge to strengthen strategic partnership

ANKARA – President Asif Ali Zardari and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday made a renewed pledge to build a strategic partnership focusing on achieving economic prosperity and strengthening political ties.
President Asif Zardari held a meeting with the Turkish prime minister at a luncheon at his official residence. Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar were present on the occasion.
President Zardari referred to his country’s special relationship with Turkey, saying the ties are rooted in unbreakable centuries-old links of history, culture and religion. Discussing the work done by the High Level Cooperation Council set up by the two countries, President Zardari expressed the desire to bolster the institutional arrangements which help in efficient execution of projects planned by the two brotherly nations.
Keeping in view the vast potential the two countries have in terms of vast human capital, abundant natural resources and growing markets with middle class consumers, the two leaders agreed that more opportunities can be availed by businessmen of both countries for investment.
Pakistan will back Taliban office in Turkey: official
ANKARA – Pakistan would back a plan to allow the Taliban to open a political office in Turkey to help with talks to end the war in Afghanistan, a Pakistani official said on Thursday during a visit by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to Ankara.
Muslim-majority Turkey, which has hosted talks aimed at building trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has said it is open to allowing the establishment of a diplomatic presence for the Taliban on its soil, but that there is no formal request yet. Analysts say that any solution to the Afghan conflict would likely require the support of Pakistan.
“We have no reservations for such an office to be opened,” the official said, on condition of anonymity. “We are not against it. As long as there’s ownership from the Afghan people and the Afghan government we will not oppose it,” the official said.