Iran summit calls for regional cooperation

A trilateral summit of Iranian, Afghan and Pakistani presidents has been held in Iran's capital Tehran, focusing on militancy in the region. A declaration issued at the summit calls on the three neighbors to enhance security, as well as political and economic cooperation in the region.

At the press conference after the meeting, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said there are serious problems on security and development in the region. He said Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan should strengthen cooperation to tackle these problems, because their countries face a common enemy.

The Iranian president warned that outside powers only endanger security in the region and foreign forces do not help increase regional security.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian president, said, "Returning to cultural values and relying on abilities of the three nations is the only way for solving problems according to the interests of the regional nations."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the three countries are facing the same problems in the region, such as terrorism and drug smuggling, which impede the economic development of each state.

He called for tangible measures to improve regional security to end the bloodshed in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari urged further cooperation, which he said will give a new impetus to development in the region.

Zardari said that the three countries are going through a difficult time, with a lot of problems along the Pakistani-Afghan borders.

The meeting also aimed to foster regional cooperation in energy, health, transit of goods, trade and agriculture.