President urges strengthening Pakistan-Turkiye ties

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Dr. Arif Alvi (L) with Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Pakistan's Ambassador-designate (R) to Turkiye, who paid him a visit at Aiwan-e-Sadr
Dr. Arif Alvi (L) with Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Pakistan's Ambassador-designate (R) to Turkiye, who paid him a visit at Aiwan-e-Sadr

Islamabad, 20 September 2022 (TDI): The President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi has urged for further strengthening of fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye by focusing on trade enhancement & bringing trade volume up to par with the two nations’ good bilateral ties.

He mentioned this while speaking with Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Turkiye, who paid him a visit at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The President congratulated the Ambassador-designate on his appointment and stated that Pakistan was dedicated to expanding bilateral trade and investment relations with Turkiye.

He reminisced that the signing of the Trade in Goods Agreement will pave the way for the medium-term achievement of the bilateral trade target of $5 billion.

Likewise, President Alvi acknowledged Turkiye’s support for Pakistan’s efforts to combat Islamophobia around the world, particularly in India, where Muslims are regularly intimidated and persecuted.

Along these lines, he also thanked Turkiye for its assistance to Pakistan in the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and asked the Ambassador-designate to communicate his feelings to the Turkish side.

Also Read: Turkiye sends humanitarian aid to Pakistan

Furthermore, the President of Pakistan told the Ambassador-designate that Pakistan would continue to support Turkiye on its essential problems.

Pakistan has great connections with Turkiye, which has been described as “heart to heart” and “two countries as one nation.” Since the start of relations, the two sides have signed over 190 agreements/memorandums of understanding.

Pakistan-Turkiye Ties

Pakistan and Turkiye have excellent diplomatic relations. Turkiye established diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1947, just after it became the world’s largest Muslim country.

Turkiye’s support for Pakistan was motivated by a variety of factors, including cultural, geographical, and religious ties. When Pakistan was established, Turkiye was one of the first countries to recognize it.

Pakistan-Turkiye relations have a history of concern, cooperation, and support. To this day, feelings of kinship between Pakistanis and Turks remain strong, manifesting themselves in Pakistan-Turkiye ties.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s first Governor-General, is revered and recognized in Turkiye, with a prominent avenue in Ankara named after him; Cinnah Caddesi.

Similarly, Ataturk Avenue in Islamabad honors Kemal Ataturk, the Republic of Turkiye’s founding father. These bilateral fraternal Pakistan-Turkey relations, however, date back to before the two countries were independent.