Pak MPs discuss strengthening of defence with Turkish lawmakers

Visiting Pakistani Senators, Friday, discussed various proposals to further strengthen Turkey-Pakistan relations with Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Oguz Kagan Koksal.
The Senators’ delegation led by Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Kashmir & Gilgit Baltistan Haji Muhammad Adeel, the Pakistani delegation included Senator Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah, Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Senator Sehar Kamran and Amjad Pervez, Secretary of the Committee.
Oguz Kagan Koksal said Pakistan-Turkey relations are deep rooted in history. “We wish that our relations to grow in multidimentional fields such as defence, commerce, education and culture,” he said. Referring to the recent visit by the delegation to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Oguz said this visit highlighted the plight of the people of TRNC and showed his gratitude for such gesture by Pakistani parliamentarians.
Haji Adeel also termed bilateral exemplary and said Turkey is our second home. Referring to the ongoing project of midlife upgrade of Pakistan’s F-16 fighters in Turkey, Haji Adeel said it is a symbol of our long lasting defence ties.
Senator Sehar Kamran appreciated Turkish defence sector industries’ participation in IDEAS 2012, a defence exhibition recently organized by Pakistan in Karachi. She appreciated Turkey’s positive role for the resolution of issues such as Palestine, Cyprus and Kashmir.
Referring to post 2014 situation in Afghanistan, she hoped that the leaders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey will discuss measures to bring peace and stability in the region in the forthcoming trilateral summit being held in Ankara from 11-12 December.
She thanked Turkey for supporting the cause of the oppressed people of Indian Occupied Kashmir. She said Kashmir is beyond territorial dispute and involves recognizing the universally accepted right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir.
Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri added that over 700,000 Indian forces are deployed in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and the people there are subjected to worst kind of human right abuses.