Pakistani Embassy in Türkiye holds special prayer for earthquake victims

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) – The Pakistani Embassy in Türkiye on Monday held special prayers for earthquake victims.

“The event was initially organized to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day, to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people in their just and legitimate struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination,” said the embassy in a press release.

Pakistani envoy Yousaf Junaid “reiterated unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir until the resolution of the dispute in accordance with UNSC resolutions and aspiration of the Kashmiri people,” the statement read.

Speaking at the event, Junaid also expressed solidarity with the Turkish people and offered his condolences to the families of the victims of the earthquake.

“Ambassador Junaid reaffirmed complete solidarity with Turkish brethren in his hour of grief and stated that rescue and relief teams along with relief assistance from Pakistan will reach Turkiye very soon,” the statement further read.

Earlier on Monday, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to convey condolences and offer all possible assistance from his government and the people of Pakistan over huge human losses in the wake of a massive earthquake that struck the southeastern region of Türkiye on Monday morning.

Sharif, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the government and the people of Pakistan stand alongside their Turkish brethren at this trying hour.

He said Islamabad will lend all possible assistance to Ankara to ride over the damage caused by the earthquake.

The death toll from powerful earthquakes in southern Türkiye rose to 1,498, said the country’s disaster agency AFAD, adding 8,533 people were injured.