Pakistan expresses 'unwavering' support to Türkiye on Cyprus issue

Pakistan fully supports Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Thursday in Islamabad.

"Pakistan fully support the cause of (Turkish Republic of) Northern Cyprus and fully stands by Türkiye on this cause in an unwavering fashion," Sharif said at a joint news conference in Islamabad with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is on a two-day official visit to Pakistan. He arrived in the Pakistani capital Wednesday night after visits to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Sharif said Erdoğan is a “a very important and highly respected leader of Islamic world.”

“You have also led from the front, speaking for the problems and speaking for the rights of oppressed people, be it people of Gaza, Palestine or Kashmir,” Sharif said. “When you speak, not only millions of people in Islamic world hear you very attentively but the globe hears you when you speak," he said, lauding Erdoğan for “transforming” Türkiye.

The Pakistani premier said Türkiye has always stood by the "just cause of the people" of Jammu and Kashmir and "always maintained your stance loud and clear," adding that he extends his "unwavering" support to Ankara.

Recalling sacrifices made by Pakistan in fighting terrorism, Sharif thanked the Turkish president for solidarity on the loss of lives.

Reiterating Islamabad’s resolve against “menace of terrorism,” Sharif urged neighboring Afghanistan “to help in fight of terrorism not in spreading terrorism.”

Erdoğan arrived in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on an official visit on Wednesday, after visiting Malaysia and Indonesia.