Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khwaja Muhammad Asif visited Ankara today
on a day long visit. He held talks with Turkish President Recip Tayyep Erdogan,
Prime Minister Benali Yildrim and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on further
strengthening of relations between Pakistan and Turkey and deepening mutual
coordination on regional peace, security and connectivity.
During his call on the Turkish President, Khwaja 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. President 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, Foreign Minister Khwaja 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 Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif also
expressed deep concern over the atrocities being committed against Rohingyas
and while appreciating Turkey’s leadership on the issue, they stressed upon the
international community for enhancing humanitarian efforts to alleviate their
suffering.
