At a joint press conference in the Pakistan Foreign Office on Friday, visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Pakistan should be assured of complete support by Turkey in its quest for a peaceful solution to the long-standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the group, which has been formed over Kashmir in the UN, we will stand with Pakistan and try to make [its efforts] successful,” he said.
He said it was Turkey’s desire that the Kashmir dispute involving India and Pakistan was resolved in a peaceful manner.
Pakistan Foreign Minister F M Qureshi welcomed the decision and said, “At the United Nations, there will be a separate conference on Kashmir on the sidelines. It happens every year, but it is different this time because a new UN report has come out which sheds light on India-occupied Kashmir.”
There had certainly been a surge in people’s interest in human rights abuses which were taking place in Kashmir, he added.
Cavusoglu said, “In today’s meeting, I discussed a lot of issues with FM Qureshi. The most important aspect of our discussion was on the [High-Level] Strategic [Cooperation] Council, the sixth conference of which, God willing, will take place in Pakistan, and we will do all we can to make it happen.”
“We have strengthened our commercial ties, and [decided to facilitate] our companies that want to work in Pakistan. We have a unique relation, therefore, we should work together to further enhance our relations. The security issue for both the countries is important and so is the economic and military cooperation,” he stated.
He further said, “There is propaganda against Islam in Europe. We ran a campaign against the Netherlands caricatures, and thank God they shut it down.”
He said Pakistan and Turkey had suffered the most hardships in the war against terrorism. He said Turkey would never forget Pakistan and its people’s help” in the failed 2016 coup attempt.
“The Gulen movement not only damaged Turkey but it also caused destruction wherever it went,” he said, noting that Pakistan helped Turkey on that front too.
“Governments and people come and go, but real friendships cannot end,” Cavusoglu said. “This friendship should remain forever.” He congratulated FM Qureshi and Prime Minister Imran Khan on forming the new government in Pakistan.
Qureshi said, “In our meeting today we focused on enhancing our economic relations. [We discussed] ways to facilitate each other.”
“Our relationship has been very strong. There is a mutual interest. We understand each other’s sensitivities. Turkey has played a role in improving regional consensus and stability,” he stated.
He said they also had a trilateral arrangement, which could be used to further improve regional stability and connectivity. “I got the chance today to thank the Turkish FM for supporting Pakistan’s membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group. On the Netherlands caricature issue as well, Turkey supported us,” he added.
