Pakistan-Turkey share close ties in modern world

Webinar highlights opportunities for enhancing cooperation

Even though most people remember the strong affinity the Muslims of the subcontinent have for their brethren in Turkey based on historical linkages, the relations between Pakistan and Turkey have further enhanced of late and there is room for it to grow even further.

This was discussed during a webinar on “Pakistan-Turkey Relations: Opportunities to Enhance Cooperation”. The webinar had been organised by the Muslim Institute. Speakers in the webinar included Turkish Ambassador Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Pakistani Ambassador to Turkey Syrus Sajjad Qazi, Vice Admiral (retired) Khan Hasham Bin Saddique, Muslim Institute’s Chairman Sahibzada Sultan Ali, Dr Shabana Fayyaz, Prof Dr Zameer Awan, Prof Dr Ahmet Uysal from Turkey and Ambassador (retired) Arif Kamal.

Speakers observed that Pakistan and Turkey share a natural friendship as well as common socio-cultural traditions with both countries enjoying deep ties in the Muslim context which date back hundreds of years.

Turkey, in particular, remembers the support extended to it during World War-I by Muslims of the subcontinent - which includes modern-day Pakistan. The Khilafat movement is another glaring example in history which showcased the strong bond between people of both countries.

In the modern world, speakers pointed to how Turkey has always regarded the support it received from Pakistan on the Cyprus issue and how Ankara has backed the Kashmir cause.

Both countries share the same principled stance on the Palestinian issue and more recently on the Azerbaijan issue, while they are on the same page with regards to Afghanistan.

Speakers highlighted that in the information technology and education sector, there are huge opportunities for Pakistan to learn from the Turkish experience, particularly from Turkey’s advanced education and health systems.

Moreover, Pakistan offers a big market of 200 million people and rich natural resources, which presents opportunities to Turkey in trade and commerce, particularly in the tourism and construction sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2020.