Erdogan raises Kashmir in Pak Parliament, says issue close to both countries

TIL Desk/World/Islamabad/ Notwithstanding India’s objection, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday once again raked up the Kashmir issue, vowing that Ankara will support Pakistan’s stand as it is a matter of concern to both the countries. Addressing a joint session of Pakistan’s Parliament, Erdogan, who arrived here on a two-day visit, announced that Turkey will back Pakistan in its efforts to come out of the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which is meeting this week in Paris.

“I also want to emphasise that we will give support to Pakistan which is subject to political pressure in the Financial Action Task Force meetings,” he said on the upcoming meeting of the anti-terror financing watchdog. Voicing his country’s support to Pakistan’s stand on the Kashmir issue, he said it can be resolved not through conflict or oppression but on the basis of justice and fairness.

“Our Kashmiri brothers and sisters have suffered from inconveniences for decades and these sufferings have become graver due to unilateral steps taken in recent times,” Erdogan said, apparently referring to India revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August last year. “Today, the issue of Kashmir is as close to us as it is to you (Pakistanis).