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Iran leader hosts regional summit | Iran leader hosts regional summit |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The presidents of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have held a rare summit to discuss security, drug trafficking and other issues. | The presidents of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have held a rare summit to discuss security, drug trafficking and other issues. |
The one-day meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran was hosted by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | The one-day meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran was hosted by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
He, Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari and Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai were due to discuss rebuilding Afghanistan and the threat from militancy. | |
The meeting comes as Pakistani forces battle militants in the Swat valley. | The meeting comes as Pakistani forces battle militants in the Swat valley. |
Drugs trade | Drugs trade |
"The presidents of the three countries will discuss security issues and the reconstruction of Afghanistan," Iranian state broadcaster Irib was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. | |
Iranian television said the talks would also touch on the drugs trade, since the Taliban rely on opium production to fund their insurgency. | Iranian television said the talks would also touch on the drugs trade, since the Taliban rely on opium production to fund their insurgency. |
It follows a summit in the Afghan capital Kabul last month between the three countries' foreign ministries. | It follows a summit in the Afghan capital Kabul last month between the three countries' foreign ministries. |
Afghanistan's foreign ministry said the talks were aimed at creating a "mechanism" for regular high-level cooperation between the three states. | Afghanistan's foreign ministry said the talks were aimed at creating a "mechanism" for regular high-level cooperation between the three states. |
The US has said it wants better relations with Iran and Pakistan as part of a regional approach to disrupt the Taliban's growth in Afghanistan. | The US has said it wants better relations with Iran and Pakistan as part of a regional approach to disrupt the Taliban's growth in Afghanistan. |
Afghan forces made their largest-ever drugs seizure on Saturday at the end of an operation which saw 60 militants killed, the US military said. | Afghan forces made their largest-ever drugs seizure on Saturday at the end of an operation which saw 60 militants killed, the US military said. |
Pakistan, meanwhile, has seen street fighting in Mingora, the main city in the Swat valley, as government forces continue their offensive against Taliban militants. | Pakistan, meanwhile, has seen street fighting in Mingora, the main city in the Swat valley, as government forces continue their offensive against Taliban militants. |
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