Turkey could play a key role in persuading the Taliban to take part in the political process in Afghanistan, thanks to historic cultural and ethnic links between both countries, the Turkish Foreign Minister said yesterday. Speaking before talks in London with David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, Ahmet Davutoglu said that without reconciliation between Afghanistans factions, no settlement could be achieved. With 1,700 troops already deployed and a further 1,000 promised, Turkey was ready to try to persuade the Taliban to end the violence and take part in elections. Ankaras aim is to repeat its success in 2004 in convincing alienated Sunnis in Iraq to end their boycott of the elections to give them a voice in the Shia-dominated Government. The approach by Turkey, whose own population is predominantly Sunni, had worked in Iraq and must be repeated by Nato in dealing with the Taliban in Afghanistan, Mr Davutoglu said. This was more important than the question of how many troops Nato should deploy or what military aid would be given to the Karzai Government. Turkey will hold a conference in Istanbul two days before the London summit on Afghanistan on January 28. The aim is to promote a framework of reconciliation within Afghanistan and co-operation with neighbouring states, especially Pakistan. Drawing on its Muslim heritage and historic knowledge of the region Mr Davutoglu said that his country had relations with Afghanistan since the 10th century Turkey has already hosted a trilateral meeting bringing together President Karzai and President Zardari of Pakistan. Both will be invited to Istanbul on January 25 to discuss ways to stabilise their lawless border regions and will be joined the next day by representatives of China, Iran and the Gulf states. The international context will be examined in London, where Nato troop strengths will be discussed. Turkey, a Nato member, was one of the first Muslim countries to send troops to the International Security Assistance Force. But Mr Davutoglu called for the rapid Afghanisation of the mission. The focus should be on infrastructure development, a five-year economic programme to create jobs, an end to the drugs trade and the reform of education and agriculture. We must persuade all to take part, including the Taleban, he said. Britain has also insisted that Nato troops alone will not solve Afghanistans problems, and that political reconciliation is essential. It has made a distinction, however, between moderate elements in the Taleban that could be brought in and the extremists opposed to any talks with Kabul. Turkeys size, history and Muslim heritage make it a key player in all the conflicts around its borders, and Mr Davutoglu, in office since May, has promoted reconciliation with all its neighbours. Its moderate Islamist Government has stable relations with Tehran and has urged quiet diplomacy over the Iranian nuclear programme. He said that Turkey opposed nuclear proliferation but more sanctions and public denunciation would only spur nationalists and strengthen hardliners in Iran. I am not pessimistic, as long as we do not make statements against each other. President Obama praised Turkey recently for keeping open a channel to Tehran. Mr Davutoglu also insisted that Cyprus peace talks had reached a critical stage, after new proposals by the Turkish Cypriot leader that offered fresh concessions on voting arrangements, power-sharing and territorial adjustments. He said that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders had met 60 times, and that Britain and Turkey, as guarantor powers, should seize the chance to pin down an elusive comprehensive settlement. Turkey, however, would not unilaterally withdraw its troops until a final deal was in place. (The Times)