Turkey and Pakistan are twin brothers despite the fact that one is the out-shoot of Othman empire and the other is the result of thousands of years struggle for an Islamic state. Both countries have similar views on various regional and international affairs and both support each other for the cause of peace and stability in the world.
Turkey had been reeling under corruption, mismanagement and dictatorial rules for decades after it was divided and subdivided by western powers and tailored into its present size. Now democracy has been well established in that country and economy is booming with leaps and bounds. Turkey, which could not get membership of the European Union, is now as developed country as another in western or Eastern Europe. It has successfully removed the tag of ‘the sick man of Europe’ by developing its economy on war footing.
In the past, various efforts had been made to develop cooperation with Turkey, but all faltered half way. During President Ayub Khan’s erain 1964, Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD)) was established connecting three countries in the region – Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. But due to interference by international powers and regional instabilities, the cooperation among the three countries remained a distant dream. It was Afghanistan, which on the behest of world powers, never ceased to stopits role in destabilizing Pakistan and this region. Still recent ago under the rule of President Hamid Karzai, every kind of conspiracy was hatched in hobnobbing with India to launch insurgency in Pakistan. The leadership of that country must know that Pakistan and Afghanistan are Siamese and should learn to live together despite all odds. Provoking instability in one country cannot bring peace in the other country. Pakistan cannot and will not ignore Indian influence in Afghanistan and the leadership of that country must understand it.
However, it is time of reconciliation for the cause of peace and economic development. Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan should form a regional economic block to export peace in each other’s countries and explore opportunities to enhance mutual trade. The leaders at the helm of affairs must understand that war never ends until you want it.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutogluis in Pakistan nowadays and economists view his visit as a good omen to usher in an era of development and prosperity in both the countries. There are various areas of cooperation where both the countries can help each other, including construction and energy sectors.The Pakistani policy-makers should grab the opportunity of the visiting head of the Turkish government and enhance cooperation as much as it is possible between the two countries.