Pakistan confers medal on Turkish military chief

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan on Wednesday awarded its top military medal to Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Guler, state-run Pakistan TV (PTV) reported.

President Arif Alvi conferred Nishan-e-Imtiaz or Order of Excellence -- a highly restricted and prestigious military award -- on Gen. Guler at a special investiture ceremony at the President House in capital Islamabad.

Later, Gen. Guler called President Alvi and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Alvi, according to PTV, thanked for Turkey's support to Islamabad on different international forums, including the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Financial Action Task Force, and also for its position on the UN Security Council reforms.

"Unparalleled fraternal relationship between Pakistan and Turkey has now transformed into a strong strategic partnership over the years and is growing stronger," Alvi was quoted by PTV as saying.

A proposed English TV channel to be collaboratively launched by Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia to counter the Islamophobia in the West, he observed, would go a long way to combat the simmering trend.

President said Pakistan and Turkey have supported each other in difficult times and he also appreciated Turkish support on the Kashmir issue, particularly in the UN, referring to Ankara’s support to Islamabad following New Delhi’s scrapping of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir’s longstanding special status through a presidential decree in August.

According to PTV, Gen. Guler expressed his hope that the two longtime rivals [Pakistan and India] would resolve the lingering Kashmir dispute in line with the UN resolutions.

Turkey had fully supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, and would continue to do that in the future as well, he added.

This April, Alvi had conferred the same medal also on Turkish Air Forces Commander Hasan Kucukakyuz.