ISLAMABAD – Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a telephone call to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday and congratulated him on his statesman-like offer to India for de-escalating prevailing tension.
According to a statement issued by the PM office, Erdogan said Islam is a religion of peace that underscores resolving disputes in a peaceful manner.
Lauding the announcement by the Pakistan premier to release the captured Indian Air Force wing commander Abhinandan, the Turkish president termed the move ‘a sign of strength.’
According to the communique, the premier briefed Turkey’s leader on the situation as it evolved over the past few days and the efforts he made to de-escalate the crisis.
PM Khan also referred to the extremely difficult situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) and brutalities inflicted upon the Kashmiri people by the Narendra Modi-led regime.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/pm-imran-addresses-joint-session-of-pakistans-parliament-on-indian-aggression/
The prime minister also thanked Turkey’s president for his constant support to Pakistan and the Kashmiri people.
The two leaders agreed that President Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council would provide the opportunity for an in-depth overview of bilateral relations and the way forward, the statement read further.
“Pakistan is the one country that will always stand by Turkey,” Imran Khan assured Erdogan.
The contact comes days after Indian Air Force violated the Line of Control before being whisked away by Pakistan Air force.
Indian Air Force aircrafts violated the Line of Control again on Wednesday, however, this time Pakistan Air Force shot down two fighter jets while capturing a pilot, Abhinandan alive.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that the pilot would be released on Friday as a gesture of peace.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was taken into custody in Pakistan on Wednesday after his MiG 21 fighter jet violated the Line of Control. In a video statement, the pilot had confirmed that he was being treated well by the armed forces of Pakistan.
In his address to the parliament on Thursday, PM Khan repeated calls for initiating dialogue with India instead of engaging in war.
