Pakistan, Turkey emphasise need for Afghan peace talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey have acknowledged the significance and need for talks between the Taliban and Afghan government for sustainable regional peace and stability.
The understanding emerged between the two brotherly countries during the meeting of visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Saturday evening when the former had a brief stopover here at the Nur Khan air base on his return journey home from Indonesia and China.
The Turkish president appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for facilitating and making possible the intra-Afghan talks. Nawaz Sharif also briefed the distinguished guest on the recent developments with regard to Pakistan’s ties with India and the Kashmir dispute. President Erdogan briefed Nawaz Sharif on the situation prevailing in the Middle East and the region. The two leaders had a hundred-minute meeting at the the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) lounge where the prime minister hosted a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary. The two leaders also expressed their anguish and concern over the activities of ISIS and termed them detrimental for world peace. They were of the view that the world should have more focus on terrorists.
Highly placed diplomatic sources told The News after the departure of the Turkish president that the meeting was extremely beneficial and took place in a cordial atmosphere. Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan was also accompanying her spouse. They were received by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, first lady Kulsoom Nawaz and their daughter Maryam Nawaz along with Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, federal ministers Senator Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Adviser to the PM for National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Secretary to PM Javaid Aslam and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.
The visiting president hugged Prime Minister Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif and warmly shook hands with other guests. The diplomatic sources said that the full spectrum of bilateral interests were covered in the course of discussions. “Both the leaders conceded that economic cooperation and trade between the two brotherly countries was not commensurate with their close ties in every sphere.”
Turkish ambassador for Pakistan Sadiq Babur Girgin, who was away in a European country for holidays, came to Islamabad with his spouse especially to receive his president. Erdogan visited Pakistan for the first time after becoming president of his country last year. He earlier visited the country six times but in the capacity of prime minister of Turkey. Nawaz Sharif while greeting him on the visit first of all felicitated him on his election as president and for conducting peaceful polls in his country last June. The Turkish president was presented a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of the PAF. Later the two leaders went for a bilateral meeting in the lounge.
Nawaz appreciated the personal contribution of the Turkish president to the growth and expansion of ties between Pakistan and Turkey. He expressed desire for both the brotherly countries to work together in increasing the volume of bilateral trade and investment through trade agreements and other measures. The prime minister appreciated Turkish technical participation in various development projects in Pakistan during the last few years. The Turkish President expressed the hope that mutual cooperation between the two countries in various fields will increase in the future.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hosted a banquet in honour of the Turkish president before his departure which was attended by the delegation of the Turkish president and dignitaries from the host country.
The two leaders invited each other to visit their respective countries and both have accepted the invitations. The visits will be organised through diplomatic channels, the sources added.