ISTANBUL - THE presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan will hold further talks in Istanbul Friday, a statement from the office of Turkey's president said on Wednesday.

The talks between Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, are the second sponsored by Turkey in a effort to bring the two troubled neighbours closer. They will be hosted by their Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

The talks will be preceded by a preparatory meeting between senior diplomats from the two countries as well as Turkey on Thursday, the statement said.

Business people from all three countries will meet separately, also on Thursday, to discuss broader cooperation including joint projects, it added.

In April 2007, Karzai and Pervez Musharraf, the then president of Pakistan, held fence-mending talks in Ankara and pledged to step up joint efforts against the Taleban.

Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions became a stronghold for hundreds of extremists who fled Afghanistan after the US-led invasion toppled the hardline Taliban regime in late 2001.

The United States and Afghanistan have accused Pakistan of not doing enough to stop militants crossing the border to attack US and Nato troops in southern Afghanistan.

Islamabad rejects the accusation and has mounted military operations against militants in the region.

Drawing on its traditionally close ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, Nato member Turkey has pushed for better ties between the two countries. -- AFP