A very strange and dangerous statement, indirectly against Greece and Cyprus, was recently made by the Pakistani Prime Minister from Turkey, stating that “the enemies of the Turks are the enemies of Pakistan” and all this, while the Turkish offensive moves against him are peaking of Hellenism!
What pakistani and turkish media says:
”Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, while assuring his government’s all-out support, urged the business community of Pakistan and Turkey to take the bilateral trade to the $5 billion mark within the next three years.
“The $1.1 billion trade is nothing… Let us resolve to take the two-way trade to $5 billion… Let us do it speedily. The time and tide wait for none,” he said addressing a dinner reception hosted by President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Riffat Hisarciklioglu in his honour.
The prime minister, along with a high-level delegation, is on his maiden visit to Turkey, since he assumed office on April 11.
A huge number of businessmen from the Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum, Turkish and Pakistani investors, and officials from the boards of investment of Turkey and Pakistan attended the event.
The prime minister said the government has done away with all the impediments to the business sector and urged the Turkish investors to invest their capital in multiple sectors like agriculture, IT (information technology), dairy, textile, and many other fields.
“My investors are my masters. Come to Pakistan. We will genuinely roll out the red carpet for them,” he added.
PM Shehbaz also assured the Turkish investors that they would face no hurdles in their future ventures in Pakistan, as they had been doing over the last four years.
He said under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has achieved tremendous progress with its companies executing gigantic projects in multiple fields, including dams and infrastructure building across the globe.
Speaking high of the warm reception given to him and his delegation, the prime minister said the two countries enjoyed fraternal relations, dating back centuries.
He also thanked the Turkish people and the leadership for supporting Pakistan during the earthquakes and floods, besides showing its unwavering support for the Kashmir cause.
The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan’s stance to support Turkey on the Cyprus issue.
On the occasion, he also apologised for “maltreatment to some Turkish companies”.
“I apologise to you personally,” he said while stressing the need to progress forward for mutual ties. The prime minister was referring to the maltreatment of some Turkish businessmen during the previous government’s tenure.
PM Shehbaz also said that Turkish cooperation enabled Pakistan to materialise the metro-bus service and solid waste management among other projects.
The prime minister went on to say that Ankara had successfully executed development projects in the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world.
Earlier today, PM Shehbaz, along with a high-level delegation, arrived in Ankara on a three-day official visit.
He was warmly received by Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and senior government and diplomatic personnel at the Ankara Esenboga Airport.
A smartly turned-out contingent of the Turkish Army presented a salute to the prime minister, who is on his maiden visit to Turkey after assuming the office on April 11, this year.
The premier is also scheduled to have a tete-a-tete with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.”
Comment by Andreas Mountzouroulias
Given the fact that Pakistan is a nuclear power, this statement is particularly significant as it has been accompanied by strong rumors for several years that experienced Pakistani pilots are manning Turkish F-16 fighter jets that violate the Aegean National Airspace due to lack of Turks.
National danger
Exactly one year ago, a meeting took place between military delegations from Turkey and Pakistan. The meeting took place on December 22-23. Pakistani Defense Minister Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Turkish Army Selcuk Bayraktaroglu represented the two countries.
There are many indications that the delivery of nuclear weapons to Turkey was discussed! The meeting was also attended by Ismail Demir, head of the Turkish Defense Industry, and Temil Kotil, CEO of Turkish Aerospace Limited (TAI).
General Sahir Shamshad of the Pakistan Army also met with Lieutenant Wali Turkchi. Sources said that the transfer of missile technology between the two countries was discussed, as well as the purchase of Turkish UAVs from Pakistan.
“China is behind the secret Turkey-Pakistan meeting,” Indian media reported at the time.
Erdogan has never kept secret his desire to put Turkey in the club of countries with nuclear weapons. As he said two years ago, “it is unacceptable for nuclear-weapon states to ban Ankara from acquiring its own nuclear weapons.”
Relations between Ankara and Islamabad over nuclear technology go back to Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the “father” of Pakistan’s current nuclear weapons program, which has been found to have sold many centrifuges to Iran, North Korea and North Korea. Libya and possibly others between 1987 and 2002.
Basically, Pakistan is the strategic partner that helps Turkey maintain a balance between East and West. Turkey supports Pakistan for Kashmir’s self-determination, while Erdogan raised it as a major issue at the UN in September 2019.
It is well known, however, that Turkish ballistic missiles without a nuclear charge do not meet the neo-Ottoman plans of the Turkish president, who has focused on this plan like no other.
Apart from the secret nuclear factor, Turkey and Pakistan have a defense relationship, which has been on the rise since Imran Khan came to power. Pakistan and Turkey will expand to the Eastern Mediterranean and we will see this in the near future on the axis that Ankara is preparing against the countries of the region.
Let’s not forget that a few weeks ago, Bayraktar TB2 arrived in Pakistan! Pakistan has ordered 6 units in the first stage. At the same time, Indian security experts say growing Turkish-Pakistan ties are a matter of concern.
Do not forget that Turkey and Pakistan are constantly conducting exercises in the Aegean & Eastern Mediterranean. Pakistan and Turkey are coming closer.
Turkey has a traditionally good relationship with Pakistan. In essence, Turkey sees Pakistan as a strategic ally but also a potential partner in the development of advanced weapons systems. At the same time Pakistan also has a good relationship with China. In particular, regarding Turkey’s defense cooperation with Pakistan, there have been recent talks between officials.