- Daesh supported by west, has no affiliation with Islam: Erdogan
- Nawaz invites Turkish investors to become part of CPEC
ISLAMABAD, November 17: Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday underscored the need for resolution of all outstanding differences between Pakistan and India, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir through a sustained dialogue process and in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions;
In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the two-day state visit to Pakistan by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both the countries expressed their deep concern about the increased tension and losses of innocent lives and casualties occurring recently in Jammu and Kashmir.
They applauded the resilience and perseverance of the peoples of the two countries as well as the sacrifices and bravery of the military and law enforcement personnel of both countries in the fight against the common threat posed by terrorism;
The joint statement called upon the international community to combat Islamophobia, religious discrimination and stereotyping against Muslims; committed to commencing joint initiatives in the context at the international fora, in particular at the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC); and agreed that the assumption of Chair of OIC summit by the Republic of Turkey presented a valuable opportunity in this regard;
They reiterated strong condemnation of the heinous coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July 2016, paying rich tributes to the brave and resilient Turkish people who stood resolutely in defense of democracy against the forces of darkness.
The two countries expressed firm resolve to continue their strong mutual support to each other on issues of core national interest, and in defense of the peace and prosperity of the two nations.
They also expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved towards implementation of on-going projects under the framework of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), and reaffirmed the resolve to explore new avenues for collaboration in the forthcoming 5th Session of the HLSCC, to be held shortly in Turkey.
The two counties agreed to further enhance collaboration in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, food processing and housing as priority sectors. They appreciated the significant progress achieved so far towards concluding the comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and decided to complete the negotiations process by the end of 2016.
The two sides committed to further enhancing bilateral cultural collaboration and people-to-people contacts through tourism; cultural and educational exchanges; collaboration with regard to preservation and restoration of archeological and historical sites; and promotion of Turkish and Urdu languages and literatures in the two countries including through the Cultural Centers being established,
They agreed to develop a comprehensive, long-term and forward-looking framework for defense cooperation between the two countries. They decided to broaden the frequency and scope of bilateral consultations on Foreign Ministers as well as Foreign Secretaries levels and to expand these consultations to matters pertaining to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well.
They noted with concern the trend towards exceptionalism and sidelining of non-proliferation objectives for commercial or political interests, which is detrimental to the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime and, in particular, to the strategic stability in South Asia.
The statement reiterated the need for making the United Nations Security Council more representative, democratic, transparent, and accountable through comprehensive United Nations Security Council reform process, based on widest possible consensus; and called for the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions to resolve the long-standing disputes on the agenda of the Security Council, especially those pertaining to the Muslim Ummah.
They urged the international community to play its due role in mobilizing support and assistance for the refugee hosting countries, including those facing protracted refugee situations; and agreed to proactively implement the decisions and agreements contained in this Joint Declaration, as well as the earlier Joint Declarations, at the highest level.
President Erdogan said terrorist organisations such as Daesh and Al Qaeda were only harming Muslims. “We are active against such groups in Syria and Iraq.”
The Turkish president added that there was evidence which showed Daesh was being supported by the west and the terrorist group had no affiliation with Islam. “Weapons seized from Daesh are connected to the west.”
“We offer our Pakistani brothers to join hands for resolving issues facing the Muslim Ummah.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif invited the Turkish investors to take benefit from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would connect Pakistan’s port city Gwadar to China and Central Asia.
He said that $46 billion worth investment was coming to Pakistan under CPEC.
He said that the Turkish investors should also take benefit from the massive project by becoming a part of it.
He expressed the hope that such conferences would expand economic relations and are beneficial for both countries, adding that investors in Pakistan were being provided many concessions. “By attending the conference, the Turkish investors have expressed confidence in the economic policies of Pakistan”, he added. He further said that the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his team have worked very hard for economic stability in the country. On this occasion, Turkish President Erdogan said that his country would expand ties in economic and all other sectors with Pakistan, adding that CPEC was a significant project for regional development. – DNA/Agencies
