Pakistan premier phones Turkey's Erdogan to extend solidarity

ANKARA, Turkey / KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday expressed his country’s support to Turkey over the ongoing counter-terror operation in northern Syria.

In a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said that Islamabad fully understands Turkey’s concerns related to terrorism, according to a statement by Pakistani Prime Ministry.

"Pakistan is fully cognizant of the threats and challenges faced by Turkey having lost 40,000 of its people to terrorism," Khan told Erdogan, according to the statement.

"Pakistan stands in full support and solidarity with Turkey," as always, he said.

"We pray that Turkey’s efforts for enhanced security, regional stability and peaceful resolution of the Syrian situation are fully successful," he added.

Turkey on Wednesday launched Operation Peace Spring east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist elements and to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to eliminate terrorist elements from the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD-YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.