Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan Thursday for talks focussing on efforts to facilitate peace with the Afghan Taliban.

Mr. Karzai is expected to hold talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss a range of issues including expanding relations, economic ties and anti-terror cooperation.

He is also scheduled to meet with Maulana Sami ul Haq, who is known as the spiritual father of the Taliban.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is also expected to arrive later Thursday for the three-way summit with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The meeting comes as U.S. and Afghan officials prepare for peace talks with the insurgent groups.

Pakistan is seen as a key player in that process because of its historical ties to the Taliban. Many of the Afghan insurgent group's leaders are believed to be based there.