ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkey and Pakistan have decided to work together to assist Afghanistan in stabilising itself and prevent a new influx of refugees.
“Turkey is facing a growing migratory wave of Afghans transiting through Iran,” he said, alongside his Pakistan counterpart Arif Alvi. The Pakistan president was in Istanbul for the launch of a naval vessel built by Turkey for the south Asian nation.
“We will continue efforts to enable the return of stability in the region, beginning with Afghanistan,” Erdogan said, adding that in order to do that, Turkey will have to pursue and strengthen cooperation with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, President Arif Alvi said that the relationship between Pakistan and Turkey was a force for regional peace and stability with their exemplary support towards peaceful co-existence and cooperative multilateralism.
The president said Pakistan appreciates Turkey’s invaluable role in international peace and stability. “The people and the government of Pakistan would continue to stand by Turkey for the achievement of the shared goals of peace and prosperity,” he added.
He said Pakistan and Turkey were faced with common challenges and threats and both countries had deepened the security cooperation.
He particularly congratulated the Turkish defence ministry for making great progress under the leadership of President Erdogan, defying all odds and challenges to change the destiny of Turkey and thanked the Turkish president for inviting him to attend the inauguration ceremony.
The comments came with the Taliban poised to take power on the outskirts of Kabul. The Taliban resurgence comes after NATO troops withdrew following a decision by US President Joe Biden to pull out.
Turkey has several hundred soldiers deployed in Afghanistan and has offered to take charge of security at Kabul’s international airport after the US completes its military withdrawal by the end of August, provided financial and logistical support are forthcoming.
The arrival of Afghan migrants on Turkey’s eastern border has become a hot political topic in Ankara, with the opposition pressing the government to take strong measures to stop the influx.
