Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, : Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday reiterated to further foster, deepen and diversify the bilateral strategic cooperation between the two brotherly countries by enhancing cooperation in diverse fields.Addressing a joint press stakeout in Ankara, the prime minister said that his today’s visit to historic and vibrant city of Ankara, enabled them to review the progress made on their targets set during the 7th Pakistan-Turkiye high level strategic council meeting held in Islamabad this year.They agreed to work closely to translate these targets into actions, with further investment in energy, IT, infrastructure and mines and minerals, he said and expressed the confidence that with joint efforts, they would achieve the mutually agreed targets of enhancing their bilateral trade to US$5 billion.The prime minister, who had arrived in Turkiye with a high-level delegation, further said that defence and security cooperation remained a vital pillar of Pakistan-Turkiye cooperation.He thanked Turkiye’s consistent support to Pakistan in its counter-terror efforts, and said that recently in Balochistan, a train full of people traveling to their destinations had been attacked and seized by terrorists.The perpetrators killed dozens of innocent people and behind this incident were the terrorists of BLA and TTP, he said stressing that it was high time that they should team up their efforts to beat the menace for all the times to come; not only in Pakistan and Turkiye but all over the world, so that the world have the sigh of relief and move forward with a sense of peace.Prime Minister Sharif, referring to his meeting with the President, said that they both had exchanged views on the regional and global issues, including the rapidly evolving and the worrying situation in the Middle East.“They stressed upon the need of unity among the Muslim Ummah. And expressed their deep concerns over the worsening situation in Gaza, and strongly condemned the brutal killing of over 50,000 innocent Palestinians including the women and children,” he added.The prime minister further said that they called for immediate ceasefire and unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.“They also renewed their call for viable and independent and contiguous Palestinian State with pr-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its Capital. This will be the only just and comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Palestinian question in accordance with the UN and OIC resolutions,” he added.Prime Minister Sharif said “Long standing alliances are shifting; giving rises to new partnerships, as nations carefully navigate the path to safeguard their national interests.”He appreciated the people of Turkiye for their bold and courageous stance for the Muslims Ummah amid the global turbulences.He also expressed the confidence that under President Erdogan’s leadership the people of Turkiye would achieve new heights of progress and prosperity.
