ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday met his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is about to arrive in Pakistan this weekend.
The meeting took place during a short stop over Istanbul Airport, while President was going to Portugal, where the two countries agreed to promote counter -terrorism cooperation at a separate meeting in Islamabad.
A press release issued by the President said that at his meeting, President Zardari and Erdogan discussed bilateral relations and exchanged courts.
Later, President Zardari arrived in Lisbon and offered condolences to Prince Rahim Husseini after the death of his father, Prince Karim Agha Khan.
Zardari met with Turkish counterparts on the way to Lisbon. The two countries are willing to advance counter -terrorism efforts
He expressed his heartfelt sympathy on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan, saying that the nation has mourned the loss of a “true friend” and “great gentlemen”.
The President said he was deeply impressed by the death of Aga Khan, with whom he had personal relations. He praised the late Akh Khan’s contribution to Pakistan’s social and economic development, especially health care, education, social development, and poverty alleviation.
Anti -terrorism dialogue
The Foreign Office said, separately, Pakistan and Turkey agreed to counter terrorism, prevent fundamentalism, prevent fundamentalism and prevent internet misuse for terrorism.
Despite the strong counter -terrorism cooperation between the two countries, this understanding was achieved during the second round of Pakistan Tourik’s counter -terrorism consultation in Islamabad after a six -year hiatus.
The FO said, “It was agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sectors of counter -terrorism, to prevent the use of the Internet for terrorism purposes and to prevent fundamentalism.”
The two sides reviewed the landscape of global and regional terrorist land and exchanged views on the threats posed by terrorist agencies.
The FO said the delegation shared the best ways and confirmed his commitment to deepen cooperation.
“The international community needs to resolve the basic causes of terrorism by resolving long -term conflicts,” the FO statement said, adding that the two countries against terrorism. Will continue their mutual education and cooperation.
Pakistan and Turkey have maintained a deep -rooted strategic partnership, in which a major pillar has been created along with trade and defense relations in collaboration with counter -terrorism.
The first round of anti -terrorism consultation took place in Ankara in May 2019, where both sides sought ways of cooperation, including law enforcement agencies, criminal justice, counter -terrorism financing, and radicalism. Includes prevention.
The two countries are well aware of the threat of terrorism, Pakistan faces insurgency in Balochistan as well as Taliban militancy, and Turkey fought against the Kurdish separatist movement.
Pakistan and Turkey conduct joint military exercises, whose code is named “Atat رک rk”, which focuses on counter -terrorism. These exercises include special forces from the two countries, including urban and rural war scenarios, hostage recovery and improvised explosive devices.
Intelligence sharing also creates an important part of bilateral counter -terrorism efforts, the two countries exchange data about terrorist networks, movements, and threats before financing.
Erdogan to meet Pakistan
According to Turkish News Out Daily Sabah, President Erdo Û”an will also visit Pakistan this weekend as part of a visit to three countries to Asia to promote relations with Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Erdogan will start his four -day journey in Malaysia today before going to Indonesia and ending the tour in Pakistan, Don Dot Com Notified.
His meetings will “enhance cooperation in various fields as well as focus on hot topics on the international agenda, from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to the situation in Syria … as well as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” Daily Sabah Said
According to the Daily, “Erdogan’s last stop over Pakistan, with Turkey’s relations, has reached the highest level under the Turkish President.”
Dawn, appeared on February 11, 2025
