Pakistan, Turkey to revive FTA talks

Turkish FM meets president, army chief, discusses security

Pakistan and Turkey on Friday decided to restart negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) after talks between the visiting Turkish foreign minister and Pakistani authorities.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi and called on Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Dr Arif Alvi and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

This was the 5th visit of Cavusoglu to Islamabad and first since the change of government in Pakistan.

Speaking at a joint news conference at the Foreign Office, Qureshi said the two countries agreed to deepen their existing economic, political and defence cooperation.



He told reporters that decision was taken to revive talks on FTA between the two countries.

Both the sides also discussed the current trade volume and termed it unsatisfactory. The trade volume between Turkey and Pakistan was around $650 million by the end of 2017.

"The current trade volume is not satisfactory and we have decided to remove all hurdles in the way of enhancing trade between both the countries," Qureshi said.

The two countries agreed to convene the 6th high-level joint working group meeting soon in Islamabad.

Qureshi said the two sides have decided to enhance bilateral and economic relations.

"Our relations are very strong which are based on a strong historic, cultural and regional background and now we will strengthen these relations further," Qureshi said.

He thanked Turkey for supporting his country on different international forums, especially at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting in February in Paris, where the US and the UK moved to put Pakistan back on the list of countries that have failed to stem terror financing.



"Today, I have an opportunity to say: 'thank you very much,' to my Turkish counterpart who helped and support us in the FATF meeting," Qureshi said.

During the delegation-level meeting, Qureshi also briefed Cavusoglu about his upcoming visit to Afghanistan.

"I have briefed the Turkish foreign minister regarding my expected visit to Kabul and we agreed to play our role in bringing peace in Afghanistan," he said.

The Turkish foreign minister said his country was keen to further deepen defense relations.

"Our defense industries have developed tremendously over a period of time and we have expertise in different areas and we can greatly benefit from each other's experiences," he said.

The Turkish foreign minister also backed Pakistan's principled stance on the longstanding Kashmir dispute with India.

He stressed the need for the resolution of Kashmir dispute through dialogue between Pakistan and India and in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations.

"Turkey supported the view that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by the UN in a peaceful manner," Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with Qureshi in Islamabad.

"The (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) group that has been formed over Kashmir in the UN, we will stand with Pakistan and try to make it successful," the Turkish foreign minister said.

He also accepted the invitation of Foreign Minister Qureshi to attended the OIC contact group meeting on Kashmir on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

Cavusoglu said that "there is a propaganda against Islam in Europe. We ran a campaign against the Netherlands caricatures, and, thank God, they shut it down."

The Turkish minister said Pakistan and Turkey have suffered the most in the war against terrorism.



Cavusoglu said "Turkey will never forget Pakistan and its people's help" in the failed 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt.

"The Gulen movement not only damaged Turkey, but it also caused destruction wherever it went," he said and added, "Pakistan helped us in that and we would for it to keep doing so."

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu holds one on one talks with Foregin Minister Qureshi. Strengthening Pak-Turkey strategic partnership in political and socio economic sectors main agenda item #pakturkfriendship pic.twitter.com/6OJhVKgKCQ

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 14, 2018

Cavusoglu also visited the GHQ to meet Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed Pak-Turkey relations, regional security, including evolving situation in the Middle East, management of defense and security cooperation between both the countries, according to the ISPR.

Pak-Turk delegation level talks - Both countries are tied in inseparable bonds of people to people affection based on common faith & objectives and shared destinies as members of Islamic world. Both countries pledged to continue partnership for regional peace and stability. pic.twitter.com/4F4jzOZC1y

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 14, 2018

The Turkish foreign minister acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan's contributions towards conflict prevention in the region and also pledged to keep working for better relations between the two brotherly countries, the military's media wing added.