Daily Times

At a time when Turkey is faced with severe economic challenges because of a disagreement with the US, Pakistan’s newly elected Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has given Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan his backing. Using Twitter, Imran Khan assured the Turkish President and the people of Turkey that Pakistan was praying that they could successfully overcome the formidable economic challenges troubling them.

I first visited Erdogan’s homeland in 1993. While posted as an Air and Naval attaché to Riyadh, I drove to Turkey via Jordan and Syria. A feeling of geniality was discernible the moment we crossed the border into Turkey. The locals’ faces would light up the moment they would learn that my family and I belonged to Pakistan. Some of them would hug us or kiss our hands and extend all kinds of hospitality.

At a dinner hosted by a Turk family, on inquiry regarding the depth of Pak-Turk relations, we were informed of three specific episodes. Firstly, the historic support provided by the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent during the Khilafat Movement. Secondly, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk decided to establish the Türkiye Bankas, the first truly national bank in the Turkish Republic on August 26, 1924, Turkey lacked the requisite funds. The bank was established with donations of cash and gold bullion from Muslim supporters in India. The gratitude for both was transferred to Pakistan after it gained Independence in 1947. Our Turkish host informed me that both these instances are mentioned in Turkish children’s text books, lest they forget the help they received from the Muslims of the Subcontinent. Thirdly, in 1974, when Greek forces occupied Northern Cyprus, Turkey rushed to rescue the Muslims of Northern Cyprus from Greek brutalities. Pakistan offered full support but Turkey accepted only medical aid. Teams of doctors, medicines and supplies were rushed immediately to help Turkey. A plaque was installed in the Istanbul military museum (AskerîMüze) commemorating Pakistan’s contribution.

When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk decided to establish the Türkiye Bankas — the first truly national bank in the Turkish Republic on August 26, 1924 — Turkey lacked the requisite funds. The bank was established with donations of cash and gold bullion from Muslim supporters in India

Taking this history into account, it is no wonder that Turks feel a sense of kinship with the people of Pakistan. This is why whenever Pakistan has been in need, the government and people of Turkey have rushed to help. Whether it was Indo-Pak wars, natural calamities or manmade disasters; droves of Turkish men and women have collected donations, bedding, clothes, food items, medicines and other essentials for their Pakistani brothers and sisters whenever they have been in distress.

On August 10, 2018, US President Donald Trump slapped steel and aluminium tariffs on Turkey in an attempt to castigate Turkey for the incarceration of US pastor Andrew Brunson. President Erdogan has taken steps to alleviate the effects of this economic bullying. He has declared that his country will boycott US electronic goods, reduced Turkey’s foreign exchange reserve requirement ratios to inject dollars into the market and will be taking additional steps in order to maintain price stability and financial stability. Trump also seems oblivious to the fact that Turkey hosts a major US military base.

Qatar has invested $15 billion to support Turkey. The ripple effects of Trump’s callous action have affected Argentina, South Africa, and a number of other economies including India. Pakistan too is suffering at the hands of Donald Trump’s irrational sanctions against Islamabad, some of which were covered in my previous Op-Ed The death of Pak-US military ties. Imran Khan has done well to express solidarity with Turkey but the people of Pakistan need to support Turkey in its hour of crisis as well. Despite facing a huge financial crunch ourselves, we must play our role in supporting the Turkish people. President Erdogan has asked Imran Khan to join a new economic bloc comprising Turkey, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan. It is imperative for us to join our Turk brothers to shift the world’s economic centre of gravity away from the Occident to the Orient.

Ordinary Pakistanis should purchase the Turkish Lira from the open market. Turkish goods, products and services must be welcomed in Pakistan instead of those from the Occident. We should promote Turkey for tourism, business and education for our children and wards. Every little effort will count. Long live the Pak-Turk friendship.

The writer is a retired Group Captain of PAF. He is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host, who has authored six books on current affairs, including three on China

Published in Daily Times, August 25^th 2018.