MEETING OF THE MINDS

Presidential Roundtable in Tehran

Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran heads talk strategy.

What happens when the leaders of three of the world's most volatile countries meet in the same room? Afghan President Hamid Karzai met Sunday with Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran to coordinate their efforts against "terrorism, militancy and narcotics," Al Jazeera reports. The summit is a clear signal that Iran is prepared to assume a more robust diplomatic role in the region as it considers overtures from the U.S. A stronger role for Iran has long been considered fundamental to success in the war in Afghanistan and broader stability in the Middle East. The move also comes as Ahmadinejad begins his re-election campaign.