TURKEY is amongst a few friendly countries which has always stood by Pakistan in difficult times and supported its point of view and stance on different matters at the international forums be it the FATF or Kashmir dispute. The repeated words of love and affection by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Pakistan have undoubtedly made him the most popular Muslim leader in the country.
It is a matter of satisfaction that frequent high level engagements between the two countries have given impetus to bilateral relationship. On Monday, the Turkish President telephoned Prime Minister Imran Khan and condoled on the tragic crash of passenger plane in Karachi. The two leaders held in depth discussion ranging from Covid-19 to the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demonization of Muslims in India. Apart from China, Turkey is the country which has provided much needed medical equipment to Pakistan to cope with the current situation, which, as stated by PM Khan is reflective of historic linkages between the two countries to help each other in times of need. At this critical juncture, the economic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey has assumed greater significance. Time has come to translate the strong bonds into a strong economic partnership. Both the countries had signed a strategic economic framework during the visit of Erdogan to Pakistan earlier this year. The focus should be on full implementation of this document as both the countries can greatly benefit from each other’s experience in different fields. People-to- people contacts at different levels should also be further promoted to bring the peoples of two countries further close to each other. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has really emerged as a strong voice for the oppressed Muslims be they are in Palestine or Kashmir as he minces no words when speaking for their rights. Since both Pakistan and Turkey are important members of the OIC, they must focus their energies to make this representative body of Muslims more effective and vibrant with the cooperation of other influential Muslim capitals. A united voice and approach is important to steer the Muslim Ummah out of the challenges it is facing today.
