The Turkish President also hosted a banquet in honour of the President Musharraf and President Karzai. Earlier, the Turkish President formally received President Musharraf on his arrival at the Presidential Palace and the two leaders embraced each other.
President Musharraf and President Karzai are scheduled to hold formal talks on Monday and will discuss the matters relating to bilateral co-operation in the fight against terrorism. President Musharraf, who arrived here on the last leg of his 4-nation tour, will also hold talks with the Turkish President and the Prime Minister.
During the two rounds of talks between President Musharraf and President Karzai, the situation in Afghanistan will figure high on the agenda. The two leaders will address a joint press conference on Monday after their talks, along with Turkish Prime Minister.
The Turkish government is hosting the two leaders and playing a role of mediator to resolve differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan and build trust and better understanding between them, which are also coalition partners in the fight against terrorism.
According to an official of Pakistani Foreign Office, Islamabad has repeatedly stated that stability and peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan's interest. Pakistan has deployed more than 80,000 troops on Pakistan-Afghan border to check cross-border movement.
It is also responsibility of the coalition and Afghan forces to check movement on their side of border, said a Pakistani official while commenting on the forthcoming talks between President Musharraf and Karzai.
On his arrival at Ankara airport President Musharraf was accorded a warm welcome and received by top-ranking officials of the Turkish government and Pakistan ambassador to Turkey Iftikhar Hussain Shah. The President is accompanied by his entourage that includes Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Minister of State for Information Tariq Azeem.