Imran Khan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Prime minister-designate Imran Khan on Tuesday pledged support to Turkey in its row with the United States.
In a statement shared on Twitter, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman assured Turkish President Recap Erdogan and the people of Turkey that Pakistan was praying for their success in overcoming formidable economic challenges.
On behalf of the people of Pakistan & myself, I want to let President Erdogan & the people of Turkey know we are praying for their success in dealing with the severe economic challenges confronting them, as they have always succeeded against adversities in their glorious history.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 14, 2018
“On behalf of the people of Pakistan & myself, I want to let President Erdogan and the people of Turkey know [that] we are praying for their success in dealing with the severe economic challenges confronting them, as they have always succeeded against adversities in their glorious history,” he wrote.
Erdogan says Turkey to 'boycott' US electronic goods
Relations between the two NATO allies have plummeted in one of their worst crises in decades after the detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges, sending the Turkish lira into free fall against the dollar.
The lira’s plunge — ongoing for weeks — was turned into a rout on Friday when US President Donald Trump tweeted that Washington was doubling aluminum and steel tariffs for Turkey.
On Tuesday, Erdogan said Turkey would boycott US electronic goods in retaliation for punitive sanctions by Washington against Ankara over the detention of an American pastor.
Erdogan vows to defy US ‘threats’ after currency crash
He added that Turkey was facing an “economic attack” and a “bigger, deeper operation” but showed no sign of making concessions to the United States.
“They don’t hesitate to use the economy as a weapon,” he said. “What do you want to do? What do you want to achieve,” he added, referring to the US.
With additional input from AFP.
COMMENTS (4)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ