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Pakistan has vital role to bring peace, stability to Afghanistan: Turkish president
8-15-2021
Pakistan has a vital duty to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan, where conflicts have intensified recently, the Turkish president said on Sunday.
Speaking at a ship launching ceremony as part of the Pakistan MILGEM Corvette Project in Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Pakistan on its 75th day of independence.
“As Turkey, we are facing a wave of Afghan migrants through Iran," he said, adding that his country would continue to put every effort to help bring stability in Afghanistan and in the region.
"To achieve this, we need to boost cooperation with Pakistan."
"Pakistan with a population of 220 million plays a critical role in efforts to establish peace and increase prosperity in South Asia," he added.
Pakistan President Alvi was in Istanbul for the launch of a naval vessel built by Turkey for the south Asian nation that borders Afghanistan and is a key regional player.
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.
Erdogan has also proposed to meet the Taliban leader for talks.
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.
The government has responded by stepping up construction of a border wall with Iran in recent days.
"With this wall, we will totally stop the arrivals," Erdogan said Sunday.
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