ANKARA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government would seek help and guidance from Turkey to rid the country out of extremism, Dispatch News Desk reported on Monday.
In a meeting with Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler and other high security officials in Ankara, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan would learn from the success story of Turkey Police and expressed the hope that Pakistan will implement an effective counter terrorism strategy with the cooperation of Turkey.
The Prime Minister said that Turkey is Pakistan’s trusted friend and has come out of the same crisis Pakistan faces today. He said that Pakistan has the potential to deliver‚ and will deliver.
The Turkish Interior Minister said that Turkey can extend help to Pakistan in controlling cyber crimes and tackling the issue of radicalization. He added that Pakistan has vast human resources and right type of training and education would help a lot. He added that established institutions‚ corruption free environment‚ educated population and trained manpower have led to strengthening of institutions in Turkey.
The Turkish Interior Minister said that extremism could not be countered and defeated through the use of force only. Social reformation and education could help a lot in this regard. He said that Turkey is ready to help Pakistan in the fight against extremism.
Meanwhile‚ in an interview with Turkish media‚ Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif called upon Turkish businessmen and entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan in sectors like energy‚ infrastructure‚ engineering and agro-based industry.
He said that his visit is aimed at putting in place institutional mechanisms‚ which will provide a strong platform for further cementing economic ties between the two countries.
He said that Pakistan has liberalized its economy and is successfully marching towards market economy. He said that private sector has assumed the role of front-line player in the economic field. He said that Pakistan is an investor-friendly country and offers equal treatment to local and foreign investors. He said that all sectors are open for foreign investment under complete legal protection.
Nawaz Sharif said that Peace and stability in Afghanistan is directly linked with peace and stability in Pakistan. He said that his government would continue to extend sincere support for the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister said that recent tensions along the Line of Control are a matter of concern but Pakistan will continue to respond to the situation with restraint and responsibility. He renewed Pakistan’s commitment to a serious‚ sustained and constructive engagement with India that must include the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nawaz Sharif said that the menace of terrorism in the region is the outcome of wrong policies in the past. He said that Pakistan needs the cooperation and support of international community and neighbors for controlling funding‚ supply of arms and training to the terror networks.
The Prime Minister said that his government is ready to hold dialogue with those who are ready to shun extremism. He said that the government has more than one option to deal with terrorists‚ but shall use force only as a last option to avoid further loss of innocent lives.
Nawaz Sharif said that the US strategy of using drone strikes in Pakistan against terrorists not only violate our sovereignty and international law but are also counterproductive and causes further radicalization in the society. He said that these strikes undermine our collective efforts to counter extremism and terrorism. He hoped that there is a rethink in the US about the utility of the drone strikes.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also visited the mausoleum of the founder of the modern Turkey‚ Kemal Ataturk.
The Prime Minister laid floral wreath at the mausoleum and lauded the struggle of Kemal Ataturk.
