Turkey stands with Pakistan, Afghanistan, says Gül --- President Abdullah Gül has stated that Turkey will always support Pakistan and Afghanistan, adding that the cooperation of neighboring countries is crucial for the maintenance of security and stability in Afghanistan. -- “Afghanistan and Pakistan, in this tough period, will always see the support of their brother Turkey nearby, in all its sincerity,” Gül said on the sidelines of the 8th Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit, which kicked off in Ankara on Thursday. -- Gül met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, while foreign ministers, intelligence and high-level military officials and business leaders from the three countries met in separate sessions on Thursday. -- Afghan and Pakistani leaders thanked Turkey for its support in disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan over security and terrorism issues, saying, “We feel like we are in our homes.” --- This year's summit is taking place against a backdrop of important political and security transitions in Afghanistan, including the presidential and provincial council elections on April 5, 2014, and the withdrawal of NATO forces by 2014. The main topics of this year's summit are security in Afghanistan after the NATO troop pullout, efforts to negotiate with the Taliban and measures to restore peace and promote reconciliation in the country and the region. -- The summit's theme is "A sustainable peace in the heart of Asia,” and host Gül touched upon political dialogue, security cooperation and partnership among the three countries, saying, “Our cooperation takes its power from friendship and brotherly ties.” -- He added, “The relations between the three countries take their strength from their historic and deep-rooted amity.” -- The supporters of the pact, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, say it is crucial for Afghanistan's stability after the draw-down of NATO forces by December 31, 2014. -- “This agreement is also significant for other NATO allies,” a Turkish official said to Agence France-Presse. “It is hard for other countries to deploy troops in Afghanistan without the presence of American troops,” the official added. - More, Todays Zaman, at: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-339356-turkey-stands-with-pakistan-afghanistan-says-gul.html