Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called Fethullah Gulen a serious threat to Pakistan’s security, and demanded a resolution of the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people.

Erdogan addressed a joint session of the parliament today which was attended by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan among others.

However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remained absent as Chairman Imran Khan announced to continue boycotting sessions of the parliament as long as the allegedly corrupt Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was leading the nation. The Turkish President said that brotherly terms between Pakistan and Turkey were not restricted to mere rhetoric but stood true to meaning. He recalled Pakistan’s invaluable aid and help rendered over Turkish quake that had left the nation devastated. Erdogan mentioned that Turkey observed a day of mourning after the Army Public School (APS) was attacked in December 2014 claiming at least 140 lives, mostly children.

The president of Turkey addressed the dispute between India and Pakistan over the held valley of Kashmir. Erdogan said that the Kashmir dispute was deeply hurting the sentiments and conscience of the Turkish people. “Increasing violence in Kashmir is saddening. I urge Pakistan and India to sit and discuss the issue,” he said.

He said Pakistan was still struggling against the menace of terrorism and praised the efforts of the Pakistan Army in battling militancy. He said Turkey would continue its fight against terrorism. Sharing his views on terrorism across the globe, the Turkish president said, “God has stated in the Holy Quran that He is closer to us than our jugular vein and there can be no higher power. Al Qaeda is serving as a puppet and as a tout to foment terrorism in Muslim countries, there is a war going on in Iraq and Syria. These terrorists are destroying Islam and are tarnishing its name, they do not belong to this religion,” he said.

“Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria are all affected by these terrorists. I have complete faith that Muslims cannot be destroyed by these tactics, hence the terrorists must be thrown out of the respective countries.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is in Pakistan on a two-day official visit on the invitation of President Mamnoon Hussain, addressed a joint session of the parliament for a third time. “Pak-Turk friendship is deepening with the passage of time,” adding that Pakistan had always supported Turkey in times of crisis especially during the failed coup attempt.

“Relations between Pakistan and Turkey are far greater than just diplomatic relations. Pakistan’s democracy is a model for the rest of the world,” he said, adding that Pakistan and Turkey have made bilateral ties stronger in every field over the past few years.

During his address, Erdogan slammed Fethullah Gulen and said that he was trying to impose his rule over the world. “Fethullah Gulen from Pennsylvania was trying to impose his rule all over the world,” he said. “Thank you for your strong support in combating the Fethullah network,” he added.

President Erdogan urged Pakistan to dismantle evil network of the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO), if any, before it becomes a threat to the country’s security. In today’s session, provincial governors and chief minister, heads of the Pakistan armed and representations from varying political parties including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and others, except Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were also present.