Welcome - President Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Islamabad yesterday on a two-day official visit along with a high profile delegation which also includes cabinet members and the country's leading industrialists and businessmen. During his visit, the Turkish President would hold bilateral talks with President and Prime Minister. The two countries are also likely to sign a number of bilateral agreements and MoUs during the visit to boost cooperation in different fields. President also participates in a Pak-Turkish Businessmen's forum to be held in the federal capital which is to be attended by leading Pakistani businessmen. He is also expected to meet leading political leadership of Pakistan apart from attending the various planned events and addressing the joint session of Senate & National Assembly.
Historically, bilateral ties between Turkey and Pakistan been exemplary and the two brotherly countries have never left each other stranded in times of need. Turkey has always remained a close friend of Pakistan over the years. Pakistan on the other hand is going through a difficult phase of war against militancy and extremism but as a nation this country has shown that it has ample capacity to rid itself of problem. In addition to political and security-related cooperation between the two countries, there is a great need to increase and strengthen economic and trade cooperation and that is what this time demands.
Pakistan desirous to further strengthen bilateral relationship through people-to-people contacts. Turkey has remained a strategic partner of Pakistan and it is highly likely that this visit of the president would diversify its economic relations in all sectors of economy. Pakistan realises Turkey's role in combating terrorism, including anti-terrorism and counterterrorism.
Turkey has continued supporting Pakistan, as the friendship between the two countries is historic. These relations have been traditionally strong. Both nations maintain extensive cultural, commercial, strategic and military cooperation. Both Turkey and Pakistan are Muslim-majority states and share extensive cultural and geopolitical links.
Turkey established diplomatic relations soon after the independence of Pakistan in 1947 and bilateral relations became increasingly close owing to cultural, religious and geopolitical links between the two countries. Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah expressed admiration for Turkey's founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and expressed a desire to develop Pakistan on the Turkish model of modernism and secularism. Similar ideas were expressed by the former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, who grew up in Turkey and had received extensive military training there. Jinnah is honoured as a great leader in Turkey, and a major road of the Turkish capital Ankara, the Cinnah Caddesi is named after him, while roads in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Larkana are named after Atatürk.
Turkey and Pakistan are founding members of the Economic Cooperation Organisation and part of the Developing 8 Countries (D-8) organisation. Both nations have worked to negotiate a preferential trading agreement, aiming to considerably increase trade and investments, especially in transport, telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism and other industries. Both governments have sought to increase the volume of bilateral trade. Pakistani exports include rice, sesame seeds, leather, textiles, fabrics sports goods, and medical equipment. Turkey's exports to Pakistan include wheat, chickpeas, lentils, diesel, chemicals, transport vehicles, machinery and energy products. Turkish private corporations have also invested significantly in industrial and construction projects developing highways, pipelines and canals.
Pakistan and Turkey have maintained long-standing military ties, with Turkey supplying arms, military equipment and training Pakistani officers. On 2 April 1954, Pakistan and Turkey signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation. Both countries, valued as important states in their regions, joined the US-led Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) aimed to bolster military and strategic cooperation and counter the spread of communism and Soviet influence in the region. Turkey has openly supported Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir dispute and maintained political and military support during its wars with India. Pakistan has reciprocated by expressing support for Turkey's policy on Northern Cyprus. Both nations have sought to expand cooperation to fight terrorism. Both countries are also members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in terms of population after Indonesia and its status as a declared nuclear power, being the only Islamic nation to have that status, plays a part in its international role. Pakistan is also an important member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Once referring to the hardship faced by Pakistan because of the war on terror, President Erdogan said that 'You are not alone in your campaign against terrorism and extremism as we too have suffered heavily from terror, given many martyrs. My government and the Turkish people stand by their Pakistani brothers as has always been the case; and are ready to help address all needs to the best of their abilities.'
The people of Pakistan value their dignity and honour. They are resolute and will spare no sacrifice to defeat the designs of the enemies of Pakistan. Erdogan expressed the hope that Pakistan would overcome its problems through national reconciliation and solidarity.
Turkey had been a part of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan group from the very beginning and had always underlined the need of redressing the issues confronting Pakistan because it was the key country for regional and global stability.
(The writer is Head Marketing & Branding in financial institution. email: [email protected])