Turkey stands with Pakistan on Kashmir issue

• Turkish FM says ‘governments and people come and go, but friendship between countries should remain forever’ 

ISLAMABAD: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday said that Turkey wants Kashmir issue to be resolved and it will stand with Pakistan on the issue.

“The group that has been formed over Kashmir in the UN, we will stand with Pakistan and try to make [its efforts] successful,” the Turkish FM announced during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Turkish FM Cavusoglu extended congratulations to Qureshi and Prime Minister Imran Khan on the formation of their government.

“Governments and people come and go, but real friendships cannot end. This friendship should remain forever,” the Turkish FM stressed.

FM Cavusoglu also said, “In today’s meeting, I discussed a lot of issues with FM Qureshi. The most important aspect of our discussion was on the strategic council, the sixth conference of which — God willing — will take place in Pakistan, and we will do all we can to make it happen. We have strengthened our commercial ties, and [decided to facilitate] our companies that want to work in Pakistan.”

“We have a unique relation, therefore, we should work together to further enhance our relations. The security issue for both the countries is important and so is the economic and military cooperation,” the Turkish minister added.

“There is a propaganda against Islam in Europe. We ran a campaign against the Netherlands caricatures, and thank God they shut it down,” he also said.

“Turkey will never forget Pakistan and its people’s help” in the failed 2016 Turkish coup d’état attempt,” the Turkish FM said.

“The Gulen movement not only damaged Turkey but it caused destruction wherever it went and Pakistan helped us in that and we would for it to keep doing so,” he stressed

Speaking about Kashmir, FM Qureshi said, “At the United Nations conference, there will be a separate conference on Kashmir on the side. It happens every year but it is different this time because a new UN report has come out which sheds light on the India-occupied Kashmir.”

The FM also said that both countries are focusing on improving their economic relations with each other.

FM Qureshi said, “In our meeting today we focused on enhancing our economic relations.”

“[We discussed] ways to facilitate each other and our relationship has been very strong,” he added.

He also said, “There is a mutual interest. We understand each other’s sensitivities.”

“Turkey has played a role in improving regional consensus and stability,” he explained

FM Qureshi also said, “They also have a trilateral arrangement, which we can use to further improve our regional stability and improve regional connectivity.”

“There has certainly been a surge in the interest of people in the human rights abuses that are taking place there. I invited FM Cavusoglu to that conference, and I am thankful to him that he accepted the invitation,” he added.

Thanking Turkey, he said, “I got the chance today to thank the Turkish FM for supporting Pakistan’s membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). On the Netherlands caricature issue as well, Turkey supported us.”

Afghanistan and Iran were also discussed during the meeting, according to the FM.