ul PAKISTAN-TURKEY RELATIONS PUR NCS Introduction Pakistan and Turkey established diplomatic relations with each other soon after Pakistan became independent in’ 1947. But the people of Pakistan and Turkey have strong love and respect for each other that dates back to the developments in the early twentieth century. This affinity amongst the people of the two countries, nurtured by decades old cultural, religious and geo-political links is an unparalleled phenomenon in the history of bilateral relations between states. Pakistan and Turkey were partners in the CENTO. Both are the members of ECO and D8 and have been working together to negotiate preferential trading agreements. Turkey and Pakistan have strong military relations. Turkey has been a supporter of the Pakistan's Kashmir cause and Pakistan has been a supporter of Turkey's policy on Northern Cyprus. The two countries were unanimous on the need to collectively fight terrorism and Islamophobia. However, both diverge on various issues: they supported opposite factions during Afghan civil war and Pakistan’ crackdown on ETIM's militancy is not welcomed in Turkey. Yet recent years have shown the positive trajectory of relations. Due to the religious, cultural, historical and geopolitical links between these countries, bilateral relations are becoming closer gly. Brief Overview of Turkey Turkey is a secular and transcontinental country located in Southeastern Europe and Western Asia bordering the Black Sea. Turkey has a strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits that link the Black and Aegean Seas. It is bordered by Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Iran and the Azerbaijan to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the south. The geography of Turkey consists of narrow coastal plains in the west that become increasingly rugged as they progress eastward. The government system is a republican parliamentary democracy; the chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. Turkey has a mixed economy in which there is a growing private sector combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Turkey 109 ¥ incre: APS PUBLICATIONS,Pakistan-Turkey Relations Chopter-14 consists of Turks (70-80%), Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Kurds, Albanians, and Georgians. Its official language is Turkish, Turkey is member of UN, NATO, OECD, OSCE, OIC, D-8, ECO, EEC, European Union Customs Union and the G-20. Both countries established diplomatic relations with each other soon after Pakistan became independent in 1947. However, the roots of relations go back even further. The peoples of both countries have strong love and respect for each other that dates back to the developments in the early twentieth century. During the Turkish War of Independence, the Muslims of the Sub-Continent extended their full support. They sent financial aid to the declining Ottoman Empire, due to historic relations between the Mughal Empire and the Ottoman Empire. For instance, the Muslims of the sub-continent have expressed their full support during the Khilafat Movement. Jinnah not only admired Kemal Ataturk as a leader, but most acknowledged his efforts to build a nation-state model which would help him distribute and create a new realm for South Asian Muslims. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah visited Turkey on 12% December 1947 and stated, “Pakistan admires the glorious past of Turkey, and its administrative achievements and organizational abilities in the past and present times. Pakistan is now two months old, and in the near future the two brotherly countries are going to establish close cultural, commercial and political relations. A new happy era will emerge for these two countries.” In 1950s, Turkey and Pakistan covered their security relationship by signing the 1951 ‘Treaty of Eternal Friendship. This led to their increased cooperation with NATO and the United States. The Agreement on Turkey-Pakistan Friendship and Cooperation was signed in February 1954. Both Pakistan and Turkey (and Iran) set up Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) in 1965, which aimed to promote their national priorities. Turkey maintained military and political support during the wars with India. Large numbers of Turks volunteered to fight for Pakistan against India and a number of Nurses to serve Pakistan flew in from there. In December 1965, President Ayub Khan visited Turkey and expressed his profound gratitude to the Turkish President Gural for the moral and material support provided to Pakistan during Indo-Pak war of 1965. In the 1970s, Turkey and Pakistan provided both political and military support to one another. Ankara. aided Pakistan diplomatically and militarily throughout the process of Bangladesh gaining its independence, and did not recognize Bangladesh until Pakistan did. Regarding the Cyprus issue, Pakistan gave Turkey its full support and provided it with military-logistie supplies. Then, both Pakistan and ‘Turkey perceived the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, both in 1979, as inimical to their security interests. During the 1980's and 1990's, Turkish-Pakistani relations weakened a bit due to the countries’ inability to build an economic partnership. Also, Ankara gave higher priority to the newly independent countries that emerged out of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union in the Balkans and in Burasia, respectively. RECENT DEVELOPEMENTS _ Exchange of High-level visits In March 2016, President Mamnoon Hussain visited Istanbul for OIC but he availed the opportunity to have interaction with Turkish leadership with a view to strengthening the 110 WKIPS PUBLICATIONSChapter-14 Pakistan-Turkey Relations Dilateral relations In different spheres of life. After that Pakistan and Turkey signed the Framework Agreement in Islamabad for establishing a Free Trade Area. In July 2016, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan (COAS) General Raheel Sharif visit Turkey on special invitation by Turkish Government where he witnessed multinational military exercises “EFES”. In November 2016, Turkish president Erdogan visited Pakistan. To signal the importance that it placed on the potential for the Turkish president's visit to enhance bilateral ties, the government invited him address parliament. It was the third time that Mr Erdogan had done so, a record for a foreign dignitary. In February 2017, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Turkey on a three-day official visit. Mr Sharif and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim co-chaired the 5th session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The prime minister held talks with ‘Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on bilateral, regional and international issues. He also visited the Turkish parliament to reaffirm Pakistan's unequivocal support for and solidarity with the government and people of Turkey against a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15 last year. Turkey’s participation in Pakistan-Day parade It was the first time in the history of the annual parade that troops from Pakistan's key allies China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey took part in it. In March 2017, Pakistan held a grand parade to mark the 77th anniversary of the 1940 Resolution for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent, showcasing its military might and unprecedentedly displaying its alignment in international politics. There was a performance by Turkey's premier Mehter band. Pakistan’s Condemnation of Coup Attempt in Turkey In April 2016, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attempt to undermine democracy by a failed coup in brotherly country of Turkey. He admired the resolve of the brave and resilient Turkish people, who stood up against the forces of darkness and anarchy to express their support and commitment to democracy. He expressed support and solidarity with President Erdogan, the democratically elected government of Turkey and the democratic institutions of Turkey. He said Pakistan reaffirmed its abiding interest in a democratic, peaceful and stable Turkey. Mr Erdogan during his November 2016 visit to Pakistan denounced the coup and blamed ‘Feto'— the organisation led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, the alleged instigator of the failed coup. He expressed his appreciation of Pakistan's decision to expel the Turkish staff of the Pak-Turk schools ~ allegedly run by Gulen-linked elements — on the eve of his visit. AREAS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. Cultural Links Pakistan and Turkey have cordial relations. The affinity amongst the people of the two countries was nurtured by decades old cultural, religious and geo-political links. It is an almost unparalleled phenomenon in the history of bilateral relations between states. The people of both countries are Muslim brethren. Turkish and Urdu both are influenced by Persian and Arabic. ‘Turkish and Urdu share a lot of words. Moreover, people increasingly watch Turkish Dramas ‘Turkish media has targeted Pakistan as audience. Turkish dramas are getting popular day by day. It has increased cross cultural harmony among people. Both Turkey and Pakistan are mutually influenced by Arab, Greek, Turko- Mongol and Persian cultures. 5 uit W KIPS PUBLICATIONSPakistan-Turkey Relations Chapter-14 Economic Cooperation and Bilateral Trade Turkey has contributed significantly to Pakistan’s infrastructure developments. The Metro-bus project has been made successful because of investments by Turkey. Turkish private corporations have also invested significantly in industrial and construction projects developing highways, pipelines and canals. Both Pakistan and Turkey are the members of ECO and D8. Moreover, both are natural partners of each other. Pakistani exports are: Rice, sesame seeds, leather, textiles, fabrics, sports goods, and medical equipment. Turkey's exports are: Diesel, chemicals, transport vehicles, machinery and energy products. Last year, bilateral trade was around $600 million, including $289 million in imports from Turkey. Mutually both countries are negotiating Turkey ~ Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, ‘which is aiming to increase the bilateral trade volume to $10 billion by 2020. The third round of Pakistan-Turkey Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations was held at the Ministry of Economy, Ankara, in July 2016. After holding the inaugural session of FTA negotiations in Ankara in October 2015, the two sides signed the “Framework Agreement” for the FTA in Islamabad in March 2016, Strategic Ties ‘The Republic of Turkey and Pakistan are strategic partners. Geostrategie Importance of both the countries defines their strategie ties. Both countries are indispensable partners working assiduously to promote peace and prosperity for their people and the region. Turkish former Prime MinisterAhmet Davutoglu during his 2015 visit emphatically declared that Pakistan's security was Turkish security and Pakistan's flag was the Turkish flag and that Turkey would always stand by Pakistan. Military Cooperation Turkey and Pakistan have strong military relations and the former had been providing training to Pakistan Air Force officers in upgrading the F-16 fleet. Military ties date back to 1954 when both countries joined CENTO, aimed at bolstering military and strategic cooperation and countering the Soviet influence in the region. ‘MoU was signed with Turkey for sale of trainer aircraft. In Novembr 2016, on the second day of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2016, Pakistan saw the signing of some 13 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), which included an agreement with Ukraine for up-gradation of the Al-Khalid tank and another with Turkey for the sale of the primary trainer aircraft, the Super Mushshak. Air Marshal Arshad Malik, chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), and Mustafa Seker, deputy undersecretary at the Turkish defence industry ministry, signed the contract for the sale of MFI-17 Super Mushshak. Under the deal, the PAC would provide 52 Super Mushishaks to the Turkish Air Force for training of its pilots. Humanitarian Efforts Humanitarian efforts of Turkey are remarkable. It contributed $20 million for IDPs in Feb, 2015. It also donated in 2010 Floods and 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Pakistan also provided its support to Turkey in return during Earthquake of 2011 and 1999, Muslim brethren ‘The people of Turkey and Pakistan enjoy brotherly relations that are not only deep rooted in history but also are based on shared values and common national interests. Since the 12 WKIPS PUBLICATIONSChapter-14 - Pakistan-Turkey Relations establishment of Pakistan, both countries have been extending exemplary support to each other during the most difficult times. Notwithstanding Turkey-Pakistani relationship is at best in political and ciiltural spheres, trade and economic relations do not reflect the depth of these brotherly ties and much is to be achieved in this area by the both governments and private sector businessmen of the two countries. Stable Afghanistan . Turkey enjoys the trust of the Afghan people and its government. In collaboration with Pakistan, if can play’a pivotal role in promoting intra-Afghan dialogue for reconciliation amorigst diffetent factions, especially the Taliban to restore peace in Afghanistan which would also go a long way in eliminating terrorism from the region. It has been taking keen interest in promoting peace in the region and bringing Pakistan'and: Afghanistan closer and building mutual trust between them. Tt launched a trilateral surnmit process between ‘Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan’ in February’ 2007 to pursue this objective and it was'as a result of continued ‘Turkish endeavours that some visible progress was made at thé eighth trilateral Summit in ‘Ankara’ in 26142The three couintries: agreed to enhance “cooperation for regional security, stability anid development, : Kashmir Issue and Cyprus Dispute ‘Turkey has been a strong supporter of the Kashmir cause and has also been maintaining political and-military support to Pakistan during its wars with India, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who visited Pakistan in August 2016 said, *Turkey has always supported Pakistan's position on Jammu and Kashmir, and will continue to do.so until the long-festering issue is resolved,” He said that with, regards to the Jammu and Kashmir question, Turkey has been supporting, fully supporting Pakistan's position...» "pakistan has always strongly expressed support for Turkey's policy.on Northern Cyprus. Pakistan expressed commitment to extend all kinds of support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cypmis (KKTC). It is assured by Pakistan that whatever steps Tutkey would outline and deers nedessary on northern Cyprus, it would be supported ‘without any reservations. Fighting Islamophobia ae, ‘The strong and cooperative relations between Pakistan and Turkey are also very important to foster cooperative relations among Muslim countries as well as addressing issues of concern to Muslim nations at the global level such as blasphemy and growing xenophobia against Muslim communities, ISSUES OF DIVERGENCE Pakistan's alleged support to Taliban Pakistan's alleged support to Taliban does not go well with Turkey. Both Pakistan and Turkey supported opposite factions in Afghan Civil war. While Pakistan maintained strong relations and support to the Taliban who were ethnic Pashtuns that have ethnic ties to Pakistan's own Pashtun population, Turkey supported Northern Alliance, due to its Uzbek and Turkmen members, with which Turkey shares cultural and linguistic ties. Pakistan was always apprehended about Afghanistan falling into the control of the Northern Alliance, which was also backed by India East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) Turkey also shares cultural and linguistic ties with ETIM Islamists, so has supported the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in China’s Xinjiang region. In recent years, 113 “Wxaps PUBLICATIONSPakistan-Turkey Relations Chapter-14 China’s crack down on ETIM insurgency and its pressure on Pakistan to do So Ts Inereasing, Pakistan struggling with domes Strongly opposed the ETIM and has taken severe actions against members of Uyghur communities within its borders. This obviously does not go well with Turkey. One can say that terrorism is hampering the relations between Pakistan and Turkey. It could foster future blame games between both countries. Illegal Migrants egal migration between Pakistan and Turkey is hampering the coordifal relations of both countries. In May 2016, more than five hundred Pakistanis, who were sent back to Turkey from Greece, have appealed the Pakistani authorities to help them return to their country. This is causing security threats between both countries. : RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE TIES. Both coutitries should: extend the cooperation in defense. coprdsh aerospace technology.and maritime defense: production, infrastructre, tradi corridors etc. Both countries should aim at stren; sectarian issues and promoting interfaith h: ic Islamist insurgency as well as being a close ally of China has terrorism. In the backdrop of terrorism when there is a growing agreement for? prOfi6tiligt interfaith harmony at the global level, the two countries ean perhaps take a lead in’ initiating a move at the UN to have a resolution passed binding all nations to ensure tespect for‘athier religions and have the blasphemy issue included in the UN charter. & g4IDK Both countries should be looking forward to the establishing “Special Econoniie Free Zones” on mutual basis. It would: bring desired dividends of greater socictedtiiomiié integration, industrialization and above all technology transfer facilities in the days to eamié? The Greater role of “Private Sectors” of both the countries would be important to enhaiice trade volumes because both countries have traditionally focused more on other markets. Moréovat! mutual cooperation of diverse sectors such as diary, agro-economy, ‘energy, infrastructure, science & technology, civil aviation, banking and financial services’ tiust be initiated. Further, both countries must aim at making Direct Transportation Links ‘to facilitate trade, Missing of “Direct Transportation Links” has been a serious constraint for promoting Turkey-Pakistan business activities and economic ties which must be transforiiéd by initiating already agreed mega projects of rails and communications.