Turkey thanks Pakistan for efforts to wipe out Gülenists

ANKARA

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has expressed Ankara’s appreciation to Pakistan for its support of Turkey following the July 15, 2016, coup attempt, following a joint meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. 

“All of the Pakistani people, government and parliament of Pakistan stood by Turkey and the Turkish people, displaying their historically proven spirit of solidarity,” Yıldırım said in a joint press conference following a fifth High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting at Çankaya Palace on Feb. 23. 

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Pakistan, Yıldırım emphasized the positive mutual relations between the two countries. 

Thanking his Pakistani counterpart for their support in the fight against the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), Yıldırım said, “FETÖ is a threat in the 170 countries in which it operates.”

Yıldırım also stated that Pakistan had aided Turkey in its efforts to halt operations by the Gülenist movement.
“We know that the brotherly country of Pakistan has been showing a meticulous approach in wiping out this terror group, which we think poses a national security threat and a threat to the public order in your country [as well]. With additional steps taken by Pakistan, FETÖ will no longer be able to find a living space in Pakistan and will abandon the country altogether,” he said.    
   
In the conference, Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with Turkey after the coup attempt. 

“Turkey’s enemies are Pakistan’s enemies,” Sharif said, adding that his country would continue its efforts against FETÖ.
 
“Our common bonds of faith, culture and history continue to deepen and nurture this relationship,” Sharif said. 

As part of his three-day visit, Sharif will also hold a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on regional and bilateral relations.