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ISLAMABAD: The presidents of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran will meet here today (Thursday) at third trilateral summit, committed to promoting regional cooperation and strengthening peace and stability.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai are expected to arrive in Islamabad today. The three sides have been holding the trilateral summit since 2009, but so far they have made little headway in substantively bolstering cooperation because of their mutual suspicions.

Additionally, US influence on Afghanistan and Pakistan has prevented the forum, established on President Ahmadinejad's initiative, from taking off in real terms.The joint declarations issued at the end of the two previous meetings virtually carried nothing more than reiteration of their commitment to the much cherished goals of expanding political, security, economic and cultural ties, maintaining peace and stability in the region and attaining prosperity of their people.