FM Qureshi meets Turkish counterpart, various issues discussed

The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, met with the country's top diplomat on Wednesday during his visit to Pakistan for a trilateral meeting.

Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan are holding their second trilateral meeting in Islamabad. The three sides are expected to discuss global and regional issues, including new and emerging threats to regional peace and security.

During the meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Cavusoglu discussed issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations and important regional and global issues.

Expressing satisfaction over the nature of bilateral relations between Islamabad and Ankara, the two diplomats agreed to ensure early implementation of the decisions taken at an earlier meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held in Islamabad.

The two also stressed the need to ensure early implementation of the 71-point Strategic Economic Framework between Pakistan and Turkey.

The foreign minister also apprised his Turkish counterpart of the grave human rights violations by Indian occupying forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the threats facing the region. Qureshi thanked Cavusoglu for his unwavering support for the Kashmir issue.

Qureshi also presented a briefing on Pakistan's conciliatory efforts for peace in Afghanistan. Welcoming similarities between the two countries, the two foreign ministers agreed to adopt a joint strategy on issues of mutual interest and to make joint efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Both foreign ministers expressed concern over the growing trend of Islamophobia in the world and stressed the need to adopt a joint strategy to protect Islamic values. The Turkish foreign minister thanked Qureshi for Pakistan's support and assistance on various issues related to Turkish issues.

"An MoU relating to cooperation in the education field (working of Turkish MAARIF Foundation) was signed following the conclusion of delegation-level talks. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Pakistan’s Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood signed the MoU," said a statement released by the Foreign Office (FO). 

President confers Hilal-i-Pakistan

President Dr Arif Alvi conferred the Hilal-i-Pakistan, the country’s second-highest civil award, on the Turkish foreign minister in recognition of his contribution to strengthen Pak-Turkish ties.

The conferment on the Turkish diplomat was made during a special investiture ceremony held at the President House.

Reading out the citation, Secretary Cabinet Division Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera recounted the services of Cavusoglu for enriching bilateral ties. He added that in his capacity as the Turkish foreign minister, had taken various initiatives for peace and security.

The Hilal-i-Pakistan award is conferred to recognise the meritorious contribution to the national interests of Pakistan, or cultural, social contribution. Other dignitaries to have achieved the honour include the now US President-elect Joe Biden, Ruth Pfau, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and recently China's former ambassador in Islamabad Yao Jing.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is visiting here for the second Pakistan-Turkey-Azerbaijan Trilateral Meeting being held on the day.

Prior to the investiture ceremony, he called on the president and discussed the bilateral as well as regional matters of mutual interest.