Thursday, February 2, 2012

Turkey - Pakistan Relations: A Deep Bond of Brotherhood



Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in terms of percentage of population after Indonesia, and its status as a declared nuclear power, being the only Islamic nation to have that status, plays a part in its international role. Moreover, she is the 27th largest in the world in terms of PPP and the 45th largest in nominal terms. The economy of Pakistan is South Asia's second largest economy; representing about 15 percent of regional GDP. On the other hand, Turkey is centrally located between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. In addition, Turkey has the largest Muslim GDP without any oil reserves. Although there is not described a nuclear power in Turkey, she has the second largest armed forces in NATO. Nevertheless Turkey's economy is developing rapidly. Turkey has the world's 15th largest GDP-PPP and 17th largest Nominal GDP. The country is a founding member of the OECD and the G-20 major economies. According to WEO, Turkey is 6th largest economy compared with the 27 EU Countries in 2011. Turkey is an important energy terminal and corridor in Europe connecting the East and the West. She is in the EU Customs Union since 1996 and an EU accession country since October 2005. Turkey is the 15th most attractive FDI destination for 2008-2010 (UNCTAD).

Pakistani–Turkish relations have been traditionally strong. Both nations maintain extensive cultural, commercial, strategic and military cooperation. Both Turkey and Pakistan are Muslim-majority states and share extensive cultural and geopolitical links. Turkey considers the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, with which it is bound with fraternal ties, as one of the prominent players for the security and stability of the region.  The people of both countries have brotherly relations which date back centuries. These relations have been traditionally strong. Relations between Pakistan and Turkey are exemplary. Turkey established diplomatic relations soon after the independence of Pakistan in 1947 and bilateral relations became increasingly close owing to cultural, religious and geopolitical links between the two countries. Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah expressed admiration for Turkey's founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and also a desire to develop Pakistan on the Turkish model of modernism and secularism. Similar ideas were expressed by the former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, who grew up in Turkey and had received extensive military training there. Jinnah is honored as a great leader in Turkey, and a major road of the Turkish capital Ankara, the Cinnah Caddesi is named after him, while roads in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Larkana are named after Atatürk. On 26 October 2009, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was awarded the Nishan-e-Pakistan and was the fourth world leader who spoke to the Pakistani parliament. Erdoğan said that Pakistan had always occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of the Turkish government and people. 

Turkey and Pakistan are founding members of the Economic Cooperation Organization and part of the Developing 8 Countries (D-8) organization. Both nations have worked to negotiate a preferential trading agreement, aiming to considerably increase trade and investments, especially in transport, telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism and other industries.

The positive reflection of the excellent bilateral relations can also be seen in the international fora. Turkey and Pakistan are supporting each other in all international platforms. By pursuing active and constructive policies in multilateral processes such as Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP), as well as organizing Turkey-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Summits, Turkey deems the contributions to the peace and stability in this region as a priority. 

The U.S.A accuses Pakistan Trust Services of aiding and abetting the organs of terrorism in these days, Turkey should be more support to Pakistan, because supporting Pakistan is a must for the peace in the region of Pakistan which includes Afghanistan, India, and Iran.

İsa Burak GONCA
References
"Recent developments". The World Bank.  June 2011.
"Pakistan May Keep Key Rate Unchanged After Two Cuts This Year". Bloomberg. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
 "One Nation-Two States". Hurriet daily news.
 "Pak-Turk political relations". Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Pak-Turk strong relations". Daily Hurriet News.
Anderson, Paul (2003-06-16). "Turkey and Pakistan boost ties". BBC News.
"Turkey and Pakistan join forces". Center for Strategic Research
"Turkey to sign PTA with Pakistan". Daily Times, Pakistan. 2005-04-16.
"Trade between Pakistan & Turkey". Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry