The Deputy Foreign minister of Pakistan, Sadique Kanju, says Pakistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to undertake a joint peace mission to Afghanistan.

On his return from a visit to the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Mr Kanju said the joint delegation would first meet the Taleban authorities and then talk to any-one else who could help bring peace.

Mr. Kanju said his visit was in line with the diplomatic process known as six plus two, which brings together Afghanistan's neighbours as well as the United States and Russia.

He denied that Paklistan was seeking to secure wider diplomatic recognition for the Taleban.