ISLAMABAD, February 28: Pakistan has expressed concern over the killing of at least 33 Turkish soldiers in Syria’s Idlib province in an air strike carried out by forces of Bashar al-Assad regime on late Thursday.
Dozens more soldiers were injured and taken to Turkey for treatment, Rahmi Dogan, governor of Turkish Hatay – bordering Syria – said. “[Pakistan] conveys heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the leadership and people of Turkey over the loss of lives of a number of Turkish soldiers in an attack yesterday [Thursday],” Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in a statement on Friday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the brotherly Turkish nation,” the communique added.
Moreover, Russia’s defence ministry said that the Turkish troops “were in the battle formations of terrorist groups” and had not communicated their presence in the area “where they should not have been”.
Turkey rejected Russia’s claim that 33 Turkish troops killed by Syrian regime fire in the province of Idlib were among groups of “terrorists”.
She underlined that resolution of Kashmir issue through Kashmiris’ right to self-determination has always been the priority of Pakistan.
Briefing media representatives of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Islamabad Friday, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s unshakeable resolve to completely support the people of Occupied Kashmir in realization of their just right to self-determination.
The media representatives were briefed on steps taken by government of Pakistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in effectively highlighting the Kashmir issue at all important forums.
The briefing dilated upon the situation in Occupied Kashmir in post 5th August environment and the reaction of international media, governments and parliaments.–DNA
