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Thursday March 28, 2024

PM to leave for Turkey tomorrow

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
February 21, 2017

Will meet President Erdogan; to discuss regional issues

ISLAMABAD: In a significant diplomatic move Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will have extensive and in-depth discussion regarding affairs related to Afghanistan with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan tomorrow (Wednesday) when they will have important meeting in Turkish capital Ankara.

Pakistan has decided to deal with the terrorism in ultimate manner that emanates from Afghanistan. Turkey is the pioneer of Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process focusing Afghanistan that includes several countries of the region as it provides platform to thrash out regional issues. Highly placed diplomatic sources told The News here Monday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will dash to Turkish capital Ankara for leading Pakistan’s delegation for taking part conspicuously important framework of Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC). Its 5th session will be taking place on Thursday (February 23).

The working groups under strategic council are already engaging in trade, banking, communication, culture and energy sectors and other areas have concluded their recommendations. It is likely that the Comprehensive Bilateral Free Trade Agreement (CBFTA) would be worked out during the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Turkey. The negotiations have already been concluded between the two brotherly countries in this regard as it would improve their economic relations in future.  The CBFTA is projected to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion between 2016-17 and 2019-20 and then to $10 billion by 2022. The free trade agreement between the two countries is expected to be signed during the visit.

The Turkish Industrialist’s and Businessmen’s Association and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry have supported the CBFTA.

The sources said that prime minister and President Erdogan will also discuss subjects of mutual interest during their talks including situation of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). The sources reminded that Turkey had been taking keen interest in peace and stability in the region and understands that stability in Afghanistan is integral to it.

The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process is very dear to Turk leadership since the process particularly encouraging security, political and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbours. The region-led dialogue was launched in 2011 to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbouring and regional partners in facing common threats including counterterrorism, counternarcotics, poverty and extremism.

The United States and twenty other nations including Pakistan, China, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Uzbekistan serve as supporting nations to the process.

Pakistan hosted one of the Heart of Asia Conferences in Islamabad in 2015, attaches great importance to the process. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be accompanied by some important federal ministers during his 60 hours hectic stay in Ankara, the sources added.