Daily Times

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visit toIslamabad at a time when the region faces the challenge of peace and stability amidst the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A shows Turkey’s interest towards regional peace. President Erdogan address to the Parliament and support to people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir signifies the importance of a peaceful solution to the ongoing unrest in occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It also is a message to the regional quarters that the unjust practices and coercive means employed to suppress the right of self-determination is not an answer to a conflict. In the words of President Erdogan: “Our Kashmiri brothers and sisters have suffered for decades and the transgressions have become graver.”President Erdogan has urged for a just solution to Kashmir through peace and dialogue.

President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan is likely to pave the way towards a cooperative relationship. President Erdogan and Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the “Sixth Session of Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council;” thirteen Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed. Both the sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation in security and promote people-to-people interaction through tourism and media cooperation.

At present, the strength of Turks living in Pakistan is around 200 and Pakistanis living in Turkey are 2000. These numbers are not very encouraging, however, the agreements signed during the visit and the eagerness to cooperate at the regional front is likely to enhance the political interaction and improve people-to-people contact. Both Pakistan and Turkey are members of D-8 organization for economic cooperation; other members include Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria and Iran. Pakistan is in dire need of Foreign Direct Investment, and Turkey will like to expand its markets to other regions / and countries. Thus, both the countries interest to grow economically can translate into a strategic partnership.

Pakistan and Turkey have struggled towards empowerment, and have defeated the odds in one way or the other. Both the countries through collaborative arrangements can deter the extremist tendencies, and work towards balanced approaches

The bilateral trade of US $ 900 million, after the signing of FTA will rise to US $ 10 billion by 2022.The enhanced economic cooperation will also diversify the Turkish investments in Pakistan, and other than the energy and infrastructure sectors, new areas of cooperation will be explored. It will open up avenues for entrepreneur exchange between the two countries (at present the strength of “Turkish companies in Pakistan are 17 while 233 Pakistani companies work in Turkey”).

Pakistan and Turkey have struggled towards empowerment, and have defeated the odds in one way or the other. Both the countries through collaborative arrangements can deter the extremist tendencies, and work towards balanced approaches. Pakistan’s fight against the militant threat has dismantled the ganging up of extremist tendencies both at internal and regional fronts. The adversarial designs to isolate Pakistan still exist. Despite these challenges, Pakistan stands tall, the country has geared up it’s geostrategic position to become economically strong. The support to Pakistan’s stance on regional issues as apparent by the visit of Turkish President, also speculates that Pakistan’s image as a strong Muslim country is gaining recognition, in fact, it is the outcome of the sacrifices, and steadfastness against the disgruntled elements. Let the regional quarters know that Pakistan supports the efforts towards peace, and the ongoing atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir pose a threat to humanity.

Pakistan and Turkey through collaborative efforts can promote the idea of peace, defeat the burgeoning extremist forces and negate the negativity linked with Muslim countries. In particular, the cooperation among the Muslim countries is to learn and progress economically for the betterment of humanity and peace.

The writer is a researcher at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)