The Pakistani foreign ministry in Islamabad has said in a statement that next week Pakistan will host the leaders of Iran and Afghanistan which will be devoted to counter-terrorism. These talks are being convened at a time when tensions are escalating between the United States and Iran over the alleged Iranian nuclear program, especially in the wake of the speculations regarding a possible Israeli attack on the Iranian nuclear installations to thwart its program.

It also comes at a time when the government of Afghanistan is keen to start peace negotiations with the Taliban. Kabul is having reservations that it is being sidelined and kept at a distance with the ongoing negotiation between the Taliban and the United States. Abdul Basit the spokesman of the ministry said that it will be two-day summit which will be held on February 16 and 17 in Islamabad. He said further that it will be attended by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and the Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Basit said further that this trilateral summit is very important for all the three countries as the leaders will be able to discuss regional issues related to counter-terrorism and the menace of drug-trafficking. Despite tremendous American pressure, Pakistan has maintained that it is moving ahead with the proposed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. Basit said that Pakistan is looking forward to complete this pipeline project by 2014 so that the energy needs of the country could be met. This project is also important for the economic growth of the country.

In 2010 a deal was signed between both the countries in which Iran agreed to supply natural gas to Pakistan in 2014.

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