ANKARA (AA) – Turkey has steadfastly supported Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, said.
“Turkey and Pakistan are like one soul in two hearts,” Sharif told Anadolu Agency during his visit to Turkey’s central Kayseri province on Sunday.
Sharif said Turkey and Pakistan have been consulting each other “very frequently,” citing the visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month and his address to the parliament.
“In his speech, he made it very clear that Kashmir has to be resolved on the basis of equity and fair play. He also mentioned our brotherhood.”
About Turkish investments in Pakistan, Sharif said they are on the rise, particularly in Punjab, home to about half of Pakistan’s population.
Sharif said there are many Turkish companies operating in the country, which is leading to a “closer” bilateral relationship.
But as for the bilateral trade volume, currently less than $1 billion, he urged: “We have to enhance it.”
“I hope that by the end of this month, a free trade agreement would be finalized between our two countries,” he added.
– FETO
“The enemy of Turkey is the enemy of Pakistan, and a friend of Turkey is a friend of Pakistan,” said Sharif.
He added that Pakistani officials are looking at the issue of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group blamed for the July 15 defeated coup in Turkey, and taking action.
Ahead of Erdogan’s visit last month, 108 foreign teachers in Pakistan allegedly linked to FETO were told that their visas would not be extended and asked to leave, but those deportations have faced a court challenge.
Turkey has requested that Pakistan close dozens of schools, colleges, and businesses it says are part of the FETO terrorist network.
The group is accused of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey, which left 248 martyrs in its wake and some 2,200 people injured.
Sharif said Pakistan is “closely” following the issue.
– Kashmir
Sharif accused the Indian government of imposing “atrocities, hegemony and barbaric rule” against the will of the people of Kashmir.
“Kashmiri men, women, and children are giving huge sacrifices,” he added.
Sharif said large numbers of innocent people in Kashmir are killed every day.
“This freedom fight would not come to an end without achieving their goals by the Kashmiri freedom fighters. That is to get their right of self-determination, to get freedom from Indian hegemony, to have Kashmir’s own future,” he added.
Sharif said the world must support these goals.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full.
The two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965 and 1971 – since they were partitioned in 1947, two of them over Kashmir.
Since 1989, Kashmiri resistance groups in IHK have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.
More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict so far, most of them by the Indian Armed Forces. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed regions.
More than 100 Kashmiri civilians have been shot dead by Indian forces and thousands injured during protests against Indian rule that began in July.
“Pakistan does not want any kind of tension on its borders. Pakistan wants to solve the problems between India and Pakistan on the basis of justice and fair play,” said Sharif.
“Pakistan wants to solve this issue through dialogue. We want to promote and encourage dialogue.”
Sharif also said the UN should convey a “very strong” message to India to respect international treaties and commitments.
“We are very clear that war is not an option,” he said, adding that Pakistan has learned a great deal from the past, “because war lasted 60 years and achieved nothing [but] rather promoted poverty and unemployment, economic losses on both sides.”
Sharif also said: “We have to engage with India and we have to encourage India to sit at the [negotiating] table to solve the issue.”
He added that Pakistan is “grateful” to Turkey, saying, “We will welcome Turkey’s role to help and provide a conducive environment and dialogue between Pakistan and India.”
