The Turks Abroad and Related Communities Presidency (YTB), in coordination with Pakistani students in Ankara, organized a “Symposium on Pakistan-Turkey Relations: Past to Present”, on 1st February 2020, in Ankara, Turkey.

The Symposium was attended by Mr. Yalcin Topcu, Head Advisor to the President; Mr. Metin Gundogdu, Member of Parliament from Ordu (AKP); H.E. Syrus Sajjad Qazi, Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey; Mr. Murat Kazanci, Head of Cultural and Social Affairs of YTB; Turkish and Pakistani Professors; Pakistani students as well as students of other nationalities; members of Turkish intelligentsia; representatives from Think-Tanks; besides others.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, H.E. Syrus Sajjad Qazi, remarked that, while 2020 marks 73 years of the establishment of Pakistan-Turkey Diplomatic Relations, the fraternal ties between the two peoples go back several centuries. Turkey and Pakistan are important members of the international community including the Muslim World, and have a history of speaking up for the cause of truth and justice, globally, the Ambassador said. In addition, the two countries have always stood by one another under the most difficult and challenging circumstances, he further added. 

Highlighting the Kashmir cause, the Ambassador thanked the Turkish leadership and people for standing by Pakistan, on numerous international forums, in raising its voice for the right of self-determination of the people of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

Head Advisor to the President, Mr. Yalcin Topcu, said that “Pakistan and Turkey are kara gun (all-weather) friends, and are like stars of the same sky”. Pakistan and Turkey are two friendly and brotherly countries, who support one another in the most difficult times, and the economic, political and cultural relations of the two countries are increasing day by day, he added.
He concluded his speech with the remarks that; “the founder of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah, was one of the most important statesmen of the Islamic world. He and the national poet Allama Muhammed Iqbal, gathered 1.5 Million Muslims to support the Turkish brothers’ struggle for independence. I commemorate them with mercy and gratitude”.

Dr. Hatice Celin from SDE think-tank; Dr. Cemil Kutluturk, Dr. Haroon Muzaffar, and Students from Cozum College, Ankara, also spoke on the occasion.