PM discusses bilateral ties, Kashmir issue with Turkish President

ISLAMABAD, Sep 24 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and discussed with him bilateral relations and the latest situation since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August to alter the disputed status of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Recalling his visit to Turkey in January 2019, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that Pakistan-Turkey bilateral relations had transformed into a mutually beneficial strategic partnership, a statement issued by the PM Office here Tuesday said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked President Erdogan for Turkey’s consistent support to Pakistan on issues of core national interest, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support to Turkey on issues of its national interest.

He emphasized the importance of further strengthening the bilateral economic partnership and expressed the hope that the recently finalized Strategic Economic Framework (SEF) would play an instrumental role in this regard.

The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan for the next round of Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSSC).

About Kashmir issue, he stated that India’s efforts to change IOJ&K’s demographic structure contravened numerous UNSC Resolutions, international law as well as India’s own prior commitments.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in IOJ&K, posed grave risks for peace and security in the region.

In this context, he called for the immediate lifting of curfew and other restrictions in IOJ&K; end to gross violations of human rights; and allowing the Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

During the meeting the leaders recalled the historic fraternal ties between the two nations and reiterated their strong resolve to continue standing by each other in the face of all challenges.