ANKARA  - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday arrived in Turkey to attend the 8th Afghanistan-Pakistan-Turkey Trilateral Summit, the foreign ministry announced.

Pakistani Minister for Defense Khwaja Asif, Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, senior military and civil officials are accompanying the prime minister on the four-day visit.

Sharif will represent Pakistan at the summit, a process launched in 2007, with President Hamid Karzai and President Abdullah Gul. The last summit was held in Ankara in December 2012.

The trilateral meeting provides a unique platform for promoting high level political dialogue, security cooperation and development partnership among the three countries for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Taking place against the backdrop of important political and security transitions in Afghanistan, the summit’s theme is “Sustainable Peace in the Heart of Asia”.

A day earlier, Karzai left for Ankara at the head of a high-level delegation, Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani, Minister of National Defense Bismillah Mohammadi, High Peace Council (HPC) Chairman Salahuddin Rabbani and National Security Advisor Dr. Spanta. (Pajhwok)