Pak-Turk relations

The fresh agreements and pledges made by the premiers of Pakistan and Turkey in Islamabad at the Pak-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting are a continuation of exemplary relations between the two brotherly nations. Turkey is one of Pakistan's most consistent allies and the nature of relations is emotional-cum-ideological. People-to-people contacts and bilateral state relations remain as strong as ever, with the two countries now seriously exploring ways and means to further

cement ties. Importantly, both sides also wish to boost their strategic relations by increasing the level of cooperation. Turkey greatly respects Pakistan and its people. It perceives Pakistan as a state that came into being on the basis of the aspirations of the Muslims of the subcontinent and believes that the development and progress of Pakistan is the success of the Muslim world. Turkey has supported Pakistan in its fight against terrorism by extending every possible help. The comment of the Turkish Prime Minister (PM) Ahmet Davutoglu that "Pakistan’s security is Turkey’s security” shows the level of commitment and regard for Islamabad by the Turkish government. Each time a PM or President is sworn in in Turkey, they visit Islamabad on top priority basis. The Nawaz Sharif government enjoys good relations with the Turkish leadership. The Turkish government’s technical and financial help enabled the Punjab government to launch various infrastructural development projects in the province besides the Metro Bus Service in Lahore. During his maiden visit to Pakistan, Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu has signed a number of agreements on economic, diplomatic, strategic and military cooperation with PM Nawaz Sharif. The two countries have agreed to work towards a free trade agreement to enhance bilateral trade to $ 3 billion in two years and $ 5-10 billion in the next few years. The Turkish PM has also lauded Pakistan’s civil-military consensus on non-discriminatory action against terrorism and offered to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation.

Turkey is one of the emerging economies among the developing nations. For the past 10-15 years, its economic progress has surged at a rapid pace. Besides its geographical importance, Turkey is also playing a significant role at the international level. It enjoys great influence in the Middle East and Europe. The friendship between Pakistan and Turkey is time tested and indispensable. The only complaint Turkey has against Pakistan is the low volume of trade. It wants to increase trade prospects with Pakistan and looks for sincere efforts by the civilian and military leadership in establishing durable peace in Pakistan. Turkey wants Pakistan to be a more stable country with a robust foreign policy towards other neighbouring countries. Turkey has urged Pakistan to focus on normalising relations with India and take steps for bringing an end to border skirmishes. Unless relations with India are normalised, durable peace in the region would remain a dream. Instability dampens economic development, besides portraying a negative perception of a country among the comity of nations. Turkey has expressed its satisfaction with the new chapter of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The renewed efforts of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, who met President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul a number of times, including the other day, are good moves to eliminate militancy from both sides of the border.

Turkey is boosting its longstanding ties with Pakistan and its stature as one of the few industrialized countries in the Muslim world. It has immutable bonds of common faith and shared history with Pakistan and reposes great trust in Islamabad. Pakistan must grab this opportunity and never let down its close ally. Islamabad needs to further build these ties and take full benefit of the offers extended by the Turkish PM. It should seek Turkish help in resolving the energy crisis as well as in other areas like agriculture, defence, tourism and infrastructural development. The past track record of relations between both countries shows that Turkey always stood by Pakistan in times of need. Pakistan should also reciprocate these sentiments positively. *