His Excellency Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and His Excellency Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey held their sixth Trilateral Summit meeting in Istanbul on 1 November 2011.
At their Trilateral Summit meeting the Presidents,
Recognizing that the Trilateral Ankara Summit Process provides a comprehensive platform for furthering high level political dialogue, security cooperation and development partnership among the three countries,
Recalling that dialogue and cooperation among all levels of public and private sector institutions including parliaments, military, intelligence and security organizations, as well as media and civil society within the framework of the Ankara Process have contributed to the enhancement of relations among their countries,
Reiterating their determination to furthering the Trilateral Summit Process by elaborating multi-dimensional trilateral cooperation in all relevant fields of joint interest including public-private partnerships,
Convinced of the value of improved regional cooperation, as an enduring way to address common challenges through regional ownership,
Welcoming ``The Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan - Security and Cooperation in the Heart of Asia`` that will be hosted by Turkey on 2 November 2011 and encouraging their regional partners to participate in this collective effort,
Cognizant of the intertwined nature of security and development, and reaffirming that trans-regional development remains a key priority of the Trilateral Summit Process,
Reasserting their resolve to cooperate in their fight against terrorism, which constitutes a crime against humanity, and extremism in all its forms, including by effectively tackling its financial resources,
Noting with appreciation the successful conduct of the Urban Military Warfare Exercise in March 2011, in accordance with the decisions of the Fifth Trilateral Summit Meeting,
Decided the following:
1. The Trilateral Ankara Summit Process is relevant more than ever, in that it provides an invaluable platform for a sincere, genuine and comprehensive exchange of views, and to resolve disagreements. Through this process, we are able to develop concrete responses in addressing, inter alia, security threats and challenges and combating terrorism. As brotherly countries, we are determined to maintain dialogue and consultations with each other, particularly with regard to urgent issues of common concern to us.
2. Various challenges to security exist in our region. Improvements to our security need to be sustained through combined efforts. In this vein, we devoted the main focus of our Sixth Trilateral Summit to security cooperation.
3. We condemn strongly the heinous terrorist attack against Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani, Chairman of the High Peace Council of Afghanistan, which also targeted peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. Afghanistan and Pakistan agree on establishing a cooperation mechanism to contribute to the national investigations regarding the assassination of former President and Head of High Peace Council, Professor Burhaneddin Rabbani. This mechanism of cooperation will begin work at the scene of the attack. Both countries will work in close coordination as per their respective laws.
4. Contacts between our high-level military and security organizations as well as intelligence services contribute to our efforts to combat terrorism and extremism. We note the fruitful meetings of the Highest Level Military Officials, Ministers of Interior and Directors of our Intelligence Services held in Istanbul prior to our Summit meeting on 1 November 2011.
5. Contacts and cooperation among all institutions, security institutions foremost, will be increased.
6. We welcome the signing of the Protocol on Conduct of Mutual Exercises and Courses and of the Protocol on Training Cooperation between Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These protocols will enable us to transform our common will to cooperate into concrete projects.
7. Our Ministers of Foreign Affairs will form a commission to elaborate ways to enhance our cooperation and consultation.
8. Relations between the Parliaments of the three countries is an essential part of our enhanced cooperation. With this understanding, we express our intention to hold the second joint meeting of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commissions of Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the first half of 2012.
9. We feel deep sorrow for our brothers who lost their lives as a result of the flood disaster in the south of Pakistan and the earthquake in the east of Turkey. The Turkish, Afghan and Pakistani peoples will continue to stand by in solidarity.
10. Within the framework of the Trilateral Summit process, the Joint Natural Disaster Response Simulation Exercise will be organized in November 2011 with the participation of experts of three countries. We will continue to engage our relevant institutions to cooperate in the field of emergency management.
His Excellency Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan extended their thanks to H.E. President Abdullah Gül and to the Government and brotherly people of Turkey for hosting the sixth Trilateral Summit.
