Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim on Thursday expressed resolve to take strict action against terrorism and extremism within their countries and cooperate with each other in this regard. "Pakistan and Turkey are facing the threat of terrorism," said the Prime Ministers in a joint media talk following the co-chairing of the 5th High Level Strategic Co-operation Council meeting. They expressed commitment for close co-operation to fight the menace of terrorism for region's peace.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif emphasised that "Turkey's enemies are Pakistan's enemies." He re-affirmed Pakistan's commitment to stand with Turkey in its fight against terrorism. He expressed confidence that Turkish leadership would effectively eliminate all threats of terrorism and would march to peace and prosperity under the guidance of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He mentioned the recent terror attack at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar saying that he was a symbol of peace. He said Pakistan was currently facing the challenge of terrorism. However, he said, efforts would continue against terrorism in all its forms. Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim said Turkey was making contribution to regional stability despite being a target to terrorism. He suggested that Pakistan and Turkey should have highest level of co-operation in counter-terrorism.
Yildirim said Pakistan had a key role in the region and was making progress in many areas despite confronting a number of challenges. He said Turkey would continue to step up its co-operation with Pakistan, a country, which, he said, had a very bright future. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif termed Turkey his second home and said it was always a pleasure to visit this friendly and brotherly country.
Calling the Turkish prime minister as his brother, Nawaz Sharif said they together held a very productive session of the High Level Strategic Co-operation Council (HLSCC), with focus on joint commitment to stronger partnership. He expressed satisfaction that the friendship of Pakistan and Turkey was flourishing with the passage of time and the two countries had excellent co-operation in education, energy, culture and defence. He hoped that the Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed on Thursday would further contribute to strengthening of relations between Pakistan and Turkey.
Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan and Turkey were celebrating 70 years of their diplomatic relations, which he said would further strengthen and enrich the people-to-people relationship. He lauded the leadership of Turkey for their support on the Kashmir issue and said Pakistan stood by Turkey on the issue of Cyprus. He also thanked Turkey for its principled position on strategic stability in South Asia and said that Pakistan was committed for peaceful neighbourhood including having friendly relations with India.
Nawaz Sharif stressed the need to intensify joint efforts to combat Islamophobia.
"Pakistan and Turkey are committed to global peace and together we can work for peace to make the world a better place," he said.
On the failed coup in Turkey in July 2016, Nawaz said that Pakistan reaffirmed solidarity with the Turkish government and the nation for upholding the spirit of democracy. He strongly condemned the `heinous attempt' against democracy and said that Pakistani nation had all prayers for the 248 Turkish martyrs who lost their lives for their motherland.
He said the Turkish nation's stance stood "mightier than the roaring tanks and guns" and their sacrifice would be remembered. Prime Minister Yildirim expressed gratitude for Pakistan's support and solidarity during the failed coup in Turkey. He said the coup attempt was launched by Fethullah Gülen's terrorist organization and termed it a threat to the security of world peace.
He said Pakistan and Turkey enjoyed co-operation in diverse fields including bilateral trade, regional and international issues and emphasised to further deepening of existing relations. He mentioned that the HLSCC meeting co-chaired by the two prime ministers was very fruitful which discussed energy, infrastructure and transportation. The Turkish Prime Minister said President Erdogan would visit Pakistan next month to attend the summit of Economic Co-operation Organization (ECO). He said Turkey was ready to do its share in anyway possible to improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said Turkey wanted Pakistan and Afghanistan to have good neighbourly relations that would be helpful in counter-terrorism efforts.