Erdogan lauds PM Imran for becoming voice of Muslim Ummah, Kashmiris

Turkish president meets National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser in Istanbul

ISLAMABAD: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised Prime Minister Imran Khan for effectively raising the voice of Muslim Ummah and the people of Kashmir at the United Nations.

Talking to Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser at a reception he hosted for the participants of third Speakers Conference in Istanbul on Saturday, he said the Muslim Ummah was going through turbulence, while Islam was being propagated and linked with terrorism and stressed the need for unity to collectively handle these challenges.

"All the religions discourage terrorism and it should not be linked with any religion," Erdogan said. He reiterated his country's unwavering support for the Kashmir issue till its resolution as per UN resolutions and aspiration of the people of Kashmir said a statement issued here.

Qaiser underlined the need for enhancing connectivity among the regional countries to counter security threats being faced by the region. He said that terrorism was a common threat to nations, which was affecting the development and prosperity of the region.

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The speaker praised Erdogan's stance on Kashmir at the UN General Assembly. He said unilateral undemocratic steps by India had deprived the people of Kashmir of their legitimate rights of identity, freedom of speech and movement besides other basic amenities of life.

The speaker also appreciated the initiative of the establishment of joint television to counter Islamophobia and portray the true image of the religion of peace. "Islam is a religion of peace and tranquility and abhors terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Qaiser said.

Speaker Asad Qaiser is in Turkey to attend the third Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments with the theme, "Countering Terrorism and strengthening regional Connectivity".

He also called on Speaker of Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Sentop.

Later, addressing the conference, Qaiser highlighted the worsening situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and emphasised that New Delhi's unilateral and illegal actions of August 5, and the subsequent imposition of clampdown posed a grave risk for the regional peace and security.

He called for upholding the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris. He urged the international community to address the prevailing dire human rights and humanitarian situation in IOK.

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The speaker reiterated that being one of the biggest victims of terrorism, Pakistan was determined to root out this menace. "Pakistan has rendered numerous sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and has successfully turned the tide against it," he said.

Terming connectivity as one of the foundation stones of the regional peace and prosperity, the speaker highlighted the progress being made by Pakistan under the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

"Pakistan will continue to take steps towards greater regional connectivity, including by making the platform of the Conference of Speakers more effective and responsive to the regional needs," he added.

The conference, at its conclusion, endorsed the Islamabad and Tehran Declarations of 2017 and 2018, respectively, which among other things call for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The outcome document also underscored the need for all states to avoid politicisation of the UN sanctions regime as well as the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The speakers of the National Peoples' Congress of China, Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Speaker Jolesi Jirga of Afghanistan, State Duma of Russia and Majlis-e-Shoora Islami of Iran are participating in the conference.

The conference is a platform established by Pakistan, with its inaugural meeting held in Islamabad in 2017. The Pakistan delegation also included Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwalla, Syed Fakhar Imam, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum, Ateeq Shaikh, Rana Maqbool, Ehsan Ullah Tiwana and Shazia Marri.