Turkish President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan postponed: FO

Turkish president’s visit will be rescheduled, says FO spokesperson

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday said the upcoming visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – earlier scheduled for October 23 – has been postponed.

“Pakistan and Turkey have deep brotherly ties and both the countries maintain regular leadership level contacts. The scheduled visit of the Turkish president has been postponed for the time being and it will be rescheduled,” said FO Spokesperson Dr Faisal while addressing to a weekly news briefing in Islamabad.



He said Turkey remained a victim of terrorism for a long time and we need to recognise its legitimate security concerns in the region. “Prime Minister Imran Khan has called the Turkish President and reiterated Pakistan's support and solidarity with Turkey.”

Turkey has come increasing international pressure after launching a military operation against the US-aligned Kurdish militia. The US imposed sanctions on Ankara and major European nations condemned the Turkish move and banned the sale of weapons to the NATO member.

Erdogan’s trip was aimed at extending full support to Pakistan’s stance on the issue of Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK).

His visit was postponed amid deteriorating ties between Ankara and the United States.

Water war

The FO spokesperson also reacted strongly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's threats to stop the flow of water to Pakistan.

“Any attempt by India to divert the flow of Western rivers will be considered an act of aggression and it has the right to respond,” he stressed.

‘Pakistan has exclusive rights on the waters of three western rivers under the Indus Water Treaty.”

Dr Faisal said such statement from the Indian leadership signals that the Modi government was bent upon making India an irresponsible aggressor state where there no regards for human rights and international obligations.

“The world must realise that the extremist Indian government is a threat to peace in South Asia and the world.”

‘India is trapped’

Condemning blatant human rights violations in the Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK), the FO spokesperson said, ‘The humanitarian nightmare in Kashmir is worsening with continued military lockdown and complete communications blockade. This risk lives of people there.”

He said India, in a state of panic and in the face of international criticism, was falsely trying to claim normalcy in IOK.

"The August 5 move of the Indian government," Dr Faisal said, "has pushed India into the blind alley from where it is unable to find a way out."



Answering a question about the verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case to be announced by the Indian Supreme Court on November 17, Dr Faisal said, “Babari mosque issue is sensitive but we hope that the decision will come as per the will of the Muslims of India.”

He said minorities in Indian should get their due rights.

About Kartarpur corridor, the FO spokesperson said, “Pakistan has almost completed work on the corridor.”

Meanwhile, Dr declined to comment on the matter of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) saying, “the ministry of finance should better  comment on it.”