Curtain Raiser – Fifth Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference Islamabad, December 9, 2015

Pakistan will be hosting the Fifth Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference in Islamabad on December 9, 2015. The Conference will be preceded by Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on December 8, 2015.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Ashraf Ghani, will jointly inaugurate the Ministerial Conference. We are looking forward to the participation of high-ranking delegations from 14 Participating States, 17 Supporting Countries and 12 International and Regional Organizations. Foreign Ministers from ten countries have confirmed participation in the Conference.

The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process was established in 2011 at the initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey. The main objective of the Process is to foster efforts for regional cooperation and connectivity with a view to promoting long-term peace and stability as well as progress and development in Afghanistan, and the region.

The Fifth Ministerial Conference is expected to adopt a forward looking Islamabad Declaration entitled “Enhanced Cooperation for Countering Security Threats and Promoting Connectivity in the Heart of Asia Region”. The Declaration would underline commitments from the Heart of Asia countries and partners for sustained efforts towards promoting peace and security, economic development and connectivity in the region.

Islamabad,
7 December 2015.

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