ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif held meetings with Turkish leadership during his visit to Ankara.
He discussed issued of bilateral interests, regional peace and security with them.
Asif in his meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Benali Yildirim and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu talked for further strengthening of relations between Pakistan and Turkey, deepening mutual coordination on regional peace, security and connectivity.
During his call on the Turkish president, Asif reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong desire for further strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries through increased cooperation in political, economic, defence and people to people ties.
Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s unflinching commitment to broaden and expand brotherly relations between the two countries. They agreed on maintaining regular high level exchanges between the two countries. Emphasizing that lasting peace in Afghanistan was important for stability in the region, they agreed that Pakistan and Turkey would continue to work together for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Earlier, Asif also called on Turkish Prime Minister Benali Yildrim. Discussing bilateral relations, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the remarkable progress being made in deepening the strategic partnership. In this regard, recalling the important work done under the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) under the leadership of the two Prime Ministers, they resolved to take measures to impart further impetus to this bilateral strategic forum.
Later in the day, the foreign ministers of the two countries held bilateral talks covering all areas of mutual cooperation and coordination on peace and security in the region with particular focus on Afghanistan in the light of recent developments. They agreed that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and reiterated that Afghanistan’s neighbours and regional countries needed to work together for facilitating a politically negotiated settlement under an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
During these meetings, the two sides shared concern over human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir. The Foreign Minister thanked Turkey for its principled support to the just struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination.
The Turkish leaders and Asif also expressed deep concern over the atrocities being committed against Rohingya Muslims and while appreciating Turkey’s leadership on the issue, they stressed upon the international community for enhancing humanitarian efforts to alleviate their suffering.
Published in Daily Times, September 13th 2017.
