Afghan and Pakistani presidents in Britain for talks

LONDON(AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari are set to hold key talks on Monday with British Prime Minister David Cameron on the Afghan peace process.

The summit at Mr Cameron's Chequers country retreat near London is aimed at boosting cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, amid growing fears that a civil war could erupt when international troops leave Afghanistan next year.

"This trilateral process sends a very clear message to the Taleban - now is the time for everyone to participate in a peaceful political process in Afghanistan," a British government spokeswoman said.

Support from Pakistan, which backed Afghanistan's 1996-2001 Taleban regime, is seen as crucial to peace after Nato troops depart - but relations between the neighbours remain uneasy despite some recent improvements.