UPDATE - Türkiye, Pakistan determined to increase cooperation at all levels: Turkish President Erdogan

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES DECK, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Riyaz ul Khaliq, Faruk Zorlu, and Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye and Pakistan are determined to increase cooperation at all levels, including on bilateral and international platforms, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, as he welcomed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the presidential palace in Ankara.

"We have comprehensively discussed our bilateral relations, and regional and global issues," Erdogan said while addressing a joint news conference with Sharif, following one-on-one and delegation-level talks in the Turkish capital.

"We are ready to further strengthen Türkiye-Pakistan relations "with a strategic perspective in line with the history, friendship, and potential of the two countries," he added.

On bilateral cooperation in the defense industry, Erdogan said: "We are pleased with the concrete cooperation projects developed recently ... The joint corvettes production as part of Türkiye’s National Ship Project (MILGEM) sets an 'important example.'"

In July 2018, Pakistan Navy signed a contract for the acquisition of four MILGEM-class ships with Türkiye's state-run defense firm ASFAT. According to the plan, two corvettes will be built in Türkiye and the other two will be built in Pakistan, which also involves technology transfer.

We have achieved the annual bilateral trade volume worth $1 billion, and are aiming to increase it to $5 billion, the Turkish president said.

The two leaders, with the participation of Cabinet members of both countries, also attended the signing ceremony of agreements.

Türkiye and Pakistan signed seven agreements in various fields including trade, housing, debt management and transportation.

- Ensuring stability in Afghanistan

Erdogan said ensuring permanent stability in Afghanistan is of critical importance and "we are working together to help the Afghan people alleviate the effects of the humanitarian crisis." The country is gripped by a severe humanitarian crisis triggered since the Taliban takeover last August.

"Türkiye sent four charity trains carrying more than 4,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, while our preparations for the departure of the 5th train are under way," he said.

About the longstanding Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, Erdogan said: "We continue to support the efforts put forward to resolve the Kashmir issue ... in line with the legitimate expectations of our Kashmiri brothers and within the framework of the UN resolutions."

- 'Türkiye's enemies are Pakistan's enemies'

For his part, Prime Minister Sharif, who is in Türkiye on a three-day official visit, expressed full support to Ankara in its fight against terrorism, including the PKK.

“Our two nations have stood with each other in times of need and on issues of core interest,” he said. "Pakistan stands with Türkiye in its fight against terrorism including the threats posed by FETO (the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Türkiye) and the PKK. Enemies of Türkiye are enemies of Pakistan," Sharif underlined.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people. The YPG/PYD is PKK's Syrian offshoot.

The Pakistani premier said the two sides will further the bilateral ties with focus on trade, defense, energy, tourism and education, and that he looks forward to welcome Erdogan in Islamabad in September.

Terming Pakistan and Türkiye as “natural partners,” Sharif said a “strong” business delegation from Türkiye will visit Pakistan for “solid and productive results.”

Lauding Türkiye’s progress in e-commerce, tourism, education and infrastructure, Sharif said Pakistan would be “very happy” to get Türkiye's support in sectors such as hydropower generation and renewable energy.

“We would be very happy in terms of investments by our Turkish friends who will make profits and we will get cheap energy, which will be a win-win situation,” he said.

The Pakistani prime minister said he expects further cooperation in defense sector including in sale of Turkish-made ATAK helicopters.

Thanking Türkiye for its “steadfast support” on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Sharif said: “Türkiye’s unflinching support provides great strength to valiant Kashmiri people who have been subjected to the worst kinds of human rights violations for over seven decades.”

“We are convinced that durable peace in South Asia can only be achieved if the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with UN resolutions, and in accordance with wishes of Kashmiri people,” he added.

Sharif also expressed support for Turkish Cypriots, saying that "we will continue to support their legitimate rights and aspirations.”

The Pakistani prime minister also met Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier in the day, and addressed Türkiye-Pakistan Business Council on Tuesday. His delegation includes Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, among others.