Brotherly Nations

Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Paçacı says whenever there is a need, Turkey will extend all-out support to Pakistan

PESHAWAR: During the current economic turmoil and financial crises, Turkey will always stand by Pakistan and its people and extend all-out support to the brotherly country, and there should be no doubt that whenever Pakistan needs Turkey, it will rush to help it out.

In an interview with Bol News in Peshawar on Friday, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmet Paçacı said, “In the new global world order, the Islamic countries should join hands and establish a strong connectivity to boost trade and the economy for long-term sustenance and development.”

In response to a question about Turkey’s role in the region’s new geostrategic Islamic bloc, Ambassador Paçacı stated that Pakistan-Turkey relations had always been ideal and close and that they had supported each other bilaterally and multilaterally at the international level.

“They have supported each other in the cause of history, and these relations date back to the 16th century and even before,” he said, adding that “the Muslims of this subcontinent have always supported Turkish independence a century ago, and this bond is very strong and lasting.”

“We will rush to Pakistan when it needs us; we have always done so and will continue to do so when it comes to supporting our Pakistani brothers, and the same is true when Turkey needs Pakistan; they were there to help us,” he said.

Paçacı, speaking to Bol on the sidelines of the Pak-Turk 75-year diplomatic relations celebrations in Peshawar, said it was high time for the Islamic world to develop. Central Asian countries, Pakistan, Turkey, and even Azerbaijan must band together and maintain connectivity in order to boost trade and relations in all areas.

Responding to a query, he stated, “Tourism must be at the top of the list of cooperation between the brotherly countries, followed by health, trade, commerce, education, and other fields,” adding that “keeping in mind the new world order, these countries must build a close liaison and connectivity that will help them surpass all others.”

Mehamat eulogised the sacrifices of his countrymen for an independent Turkey and the Muslims of the subcontinent for the independence of Pakistan, which has emerged as the key power of the Islamic world.

In response to a suggestion, the Turkish envoy stated that he will raise the issue of direct flights between Peshawar and Istanbul with the Turkish government and that it will be implemented.

Speaking on the occasion, Salim Saifullah Khan, Honorary Counsel General of Turkey in Peshawar, said, “Turkey has always been the first to reach and help Pakistan, whether it was the 2005 earthquake or the 2011 flood, and even the floods of 2022, we have always found our brothers by our side and helping.”

He urged Turkey to help Pakistan with education and health, as well as to expand the Pak-Turk school systems to all of Khyber Paktunkhawa (KP) and its merged areas, stating that “Turkey is an economic powerhouse and the custodian of Islamic history, while Pakistan is the Islamic world’s only nuclear power, so the brotherly nations must join hands to boost their economies.”

Salim remarked that KP enjoyed cordial relations with Turkey as they marked 75 years of diplomatic relations, adding, “Abdul Rehman Peshawari, from the KP, was a local resident who was awarded Turkish nationality, and he was appointed Turkey’s first ambassador in Kabul, so the region has had historic relations with Turkey and its people for over 100 years.”

In recalling the historic ties between Pakistan and Turkey, former Governor KP Iqbal Zafar Jhagra stressed the importance of promoting Islamic tourism between the two countries, saying, “There should be exchange programmes between the youth of the two countries to apprise the younger generations about the historical ties between the two countries.”

He stated that Turkey is the custodian of Islamic history and that the 75-year history of Pak-Turk diplomatic relations demonstrates the strong bond of brotherhood between the two countries.