Turkish president offers cooperation to reduce tension b/w Pak, India

On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan on his speech at the joint parliament session and his statesman-like offers to India for de-escalating the situation and working towards peace. The Turkish president phoned PM Imran Khan and said Islam is a religion of peace that underscores resolving disputes in a peaceful manner. Erdogan hailed the announcement by the Prime Minister to release the captured Indian Air Force pilot and pointed out that this gesture was a sign of strength. The premier briefed President Erdogan on the situation as it evolved over the past few days and the efforts he made to de-escalate the crisis. He also referred to the extremely difficult situation in Indian-held Jammu Kashmir and the brutalities inflicted upon the Kashmiri people. Imran Khan thanked President Erdogan for his constant support for Pakistan and the Kashmiri people. Both the leaders agreed that President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan for the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting would provide opportunity for an in-depth overview of bilateral relations and the way forward.