Kashmir dispute should be solved according to Kashmiris' will: Erdogan
He recalled Pakistan's invaluable aid and help rendered over quake in Turkey
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday has called for solution of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan in accordance with the will of Kashmiris.
He addressed a joint session of the parliament today which was attended by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif besides Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh among others.
However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remained absent as Chairman of the political organisation, Imran Khan announced to continue boycotting sessions of the parliament as long as alleged corrupt Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was leading the nation.
During his address, Erdogan said that brotherly terms between Pakistan and Turkey were not restricted to mere rhetoric but stood true to the meaning.
Erdogan recalled Pakistan’s invaluable aid and help rendered over Turkish quake that had left the nation devastated.
Erdogan mentioned that Turkey observed a day of mourning after Army Public School (APS) was attacked in December 2014 claiming at least 140 lives, mostly children. Relations between Pakistanis and the Turkish nation was unparalleled, he said.
He said that Al-Qaeda, Daesh and other extremist outfits were being supplied arms by the West and that deriving a link between terrorism and Islam was synonymous to damaging the religion.
Islam calls for peace and has nothing to do with extremism, Erdogan said. The Turkish president said that the government was pursuing action against terrorists in Syria and Iraq.
He also said that conspiracies were being hatched to widen gap between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Muslims around the world were liable to remain detached with sentiments that fanned sectarianism.
President of Turkey addressed dispute between India and Pakistan over held valley of Kashmir. Erdogan said that Kashmir dispute was deeply hurting sentiments and conscience of Turkish people.
President of Turkey arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday on a two-day visit where he was welcomed by Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, his wife and daughter among other dignitaries.
The Turkish president was hosted a dinner by President Mamnoon Hussain at the President House on Wednesday night.
Erdogan is to leave for Lahore later today where Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif will host a dinner in his honour at the Lahore Fort.
Chinese Xi Jinping, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Turkish President Kenan Evran, and others have addressed the Pakistani parliament in the past.
