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First official visit: Turkey an ‘inspiring example’ for the world: Khar
Foreign ministers agree upon strengthening bilateral relations.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar discussing regional and international matters with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Friday. PHOTO: APP
ANKARA:
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Turkish leaders agreed upon further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
Khar stressed that Turkey was not only an “inspiring example” for the region, but also for the world. “Your experience and your democracy should serve as examples to everyone,” Khar said following meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and her counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday.
Asked about why Turkey was chosen as her destination for her first official visit abroad, she gave an example that illustrated extent of her country’s confidence in Turkey.
“When I went out to the areas hit by recent floods, I saw numerous tents in which health assistance was being provided, set up by various countries, including European ones.
Hundreds of people were waiting in front of one tent in particular, while only a few waited in line for the other.” Upon enquiring why that was so, she was given a simple reply. “They said the longest line was for the Turkish tent. “If our arms do not have to be amputated, our Turkish brothers will not do it,” they told me. Pakistanis have incredible faith in Turkey.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (17)
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Inspiring example indeed in the way that the Turkish politicians have been able to gradually erode and ultimately finish the Turkish Army’s political influence by undermining the Army’s credibility and empowering the government through economic growth. Would Ms. Khar please persuade PM Gilani to follow in PM Erdogan’s footsteps? If nothing, at least it would be amusing to see the reaction of the Pakistani General Staff.
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If Turkey is an inspiring example for Pakistan, why should we be visiting King Abdullah’s house of Saud again and again. Time for Pakistan to reset its foreign policies – revive what has been forgotten such as RCD!
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A very positive sign that HRK suggested establishment of a Turkish University in Pakistan. She also indicated that Turkey is a role model for Pakistan. if it can start from the example set by Kamal Atta, then Pak can be really benefited from this inspiring example well.
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@IlovePakistan: Pakistan needs as much friends as possible because we have too many enemies. U.S., India, Afghanistan all want a piece of Pakistan. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China are our friends. If worse comes to worse, Turkey, China, and Saudi Arabia can use their influence on our enemies to help Pakistan. As of now, Pakistan should build its economy like Turkey did. Turkey doesnt have oil like Arab countries do, and still they are doing better financially than Arab countries.
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@Amir,
“Pakistan needs as much friends as possible because we have too many enemies.”
Have you ever wondered why?
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@Karachiite
Dont worry IK will do it
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Amir, I really doubt the Saudi leadership would bother to use any influence for us against their Western “friends”.Recommend
@Amir:
“Turkey, China, and Saudi Arabia can use their influence on our enemies to help Pakistan”
Turkey and Saudi are allied with Pakistan’s supposed enemy the US, and frankly they do not dictate anything to the US. The Chinese are only Pakistan’s “friends” when they get a lopsided free trade agreement that benefits them, are able to get Pakistan to give up portions of Kashmir to them (Askin Chin, Karkoram Tract), and get to sell their cheap military hardware to Pakistan. Beyond that they honestly could care less.
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Today, we were discussing about Turkey’s growth since early 2000 and which compelled me to read Erdogan’s biography at wikipedia. To be honest, his government won three elections in a row and the most exciting thing is that they get more votes than previous election everytime. wow.
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Turkey is a model Muslim country and Pakistan needs to follow its secular, democratic and economic policies. Most Pakistanis continue to put their blinkers on regarding their relationship with India and US which is harming their own interests.
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she seems to get easily impressed…!
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@Sudhir
*Do pakis have…”
You should learn some manners for a decent conversation. If you start your argument with derogatory slang, no body would like to read them.
@ET, you should take notice. These Indians are taking advantage of your political correctness. Draw a line somewhere.
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@No Spin doctor:
You can call a guy from Nepal as Nepali, a guy from Bangladesh as Bangladeshi, and you can call a guy from gulf as Emirati..and if you call a guy from Pakistan as Paki…he says he is being called in indecent terms. Paki is a short term for Pakistani.
Why the term ‘Paki’ is a derogatory word? Ever wondered why?
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Turkey achieved what it has now by abolishing khalifa, and banishing Islam and Islamic symbols at least from public life, at a gunpoint. I’m sure Pakistan was not ‘created’ for this purpose. Maybe Madam Khar is refering to the recent attempts in Turkey to bring back Islamism in public life? (which is still incomplete process and so results yet to be seen).
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@vickram I write you comments of different people about this word, hope you get cleared!
20 or 30 years ago it was the war cry of racists who then proceeded to beat anyone non-white, whether from Pakistan or India, or Bangladesh etc.————————————————————————————————————-
Because it originated in England as a negative way to describe someone of Southern Asian descent. There was even a practise known as ‘Paki Bashing’ which was when people of Indian/Pakistani descent would get beat up by English people. The word Paki is therefore seen as racist because of its origins.———————————————————————————————————————————————————–
because it is used in an insulting or derogatory manner. It’s meant to demean.
And anyway, it’s not used just for pakistanis but for any one with origins from that part of the world (indians, bangladeshis, sri lankans etc).
Just like the word negro was annotated to nigger and used as an insult. There’s nothing bad in the word negro-it’s just like saying someone is caucasion or oriental.—————————————————————————————————-Yes it is racist
It was meant to be used that way
Any NO it cant be compared to calling an Australian an ‘Aussie’ or anything like that
It was used in the 70′s by skinheads to express their hate for asians and that is how it will always be conveyed.Recommend
Flattery will get you everywhere.Recommend
True and also wake up call for those Pakistanis who want the Commiserate system. Turkey has 16 cities that use a decentralized structure.
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