Tuncay Kayaoglu
ISTANBUL
As Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan set to travel to Pakistan next week so soon after Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Turkey in September, an international relation expert commented that Ankara can play a vital role to ease and normalize relations between India and Pakistan, whose relationship has been plagued by hostility and suspicion.
“Erdogan’s visit could be a turning-point to solve more than 50-years-long hostility between India and Pakistan,” Suleyman Sensoy, chairman of Istanbul-based Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies, told AA correspondent.
Sharing common language, religion, history and geography is not enough for building a strong bond, he said, adding that Ankara and Islamabad should deepen their relations through broadening financial and strategic affairs. “I think this is what is happening right now,” he noted.
Turkey has a lot to share with Pakistan that faces grave problems on its infrastructure and security front. In reply to question on possible military cooperation, Suleyman Sensoy said Turkey could be the number one choice for Pakistan to provide military equipments as long as Ankara manufactures necessary products. On economic cooperation, Sensoy noted that Pakistan’s economy is not sound, may need financial support.
Pakistani officials said Islamabad is interested into buying Turkish basic training aircraft, Hurkus, and an attack helicopter, ATAK. Two countries also signed an agreement to build a supply vessel and cooperate on modernization of military aircraft. During Erdogan’s scheduled visit on December 23-24, the two countries are expected to sign agreement on new residential areas.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
