President Dr. Arif Alvi received a telephone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this evening. In wake of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, President Dr. Arif Alvi informed the Turkish President that India started raising finger at Pakistan immediately after the Pulwama Attack without any credible evidence. President Dr. Arif Alvi emphasized that Pakistan not only condemned the unfortunate incident but also offered India full cooperation in the investigation, requesting them to share any actionable information they had. He added that unfortunately, instead of sharing any information, India resorted to blame game and war mongering. He underscored that Pakistan exercised maximum restraint even after the Indian incursions to avoid further escalation. He also conveyed Pakistan’s decision to release the captured Indian pilot as a goodwill gesture for peace. President Dr. Arif Alvi underlined that Pakistan’s response of yesterday was in self-defense, as it was measured and well calibrated to avoid loss of life and further escalation in tensions. He highlighted that Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his two addresses to the nation after the Pulwama incident, adopted a conciliatory tone and urged India also to give peace a chance. He stated that Pakistan had also urged the international community, particularly the friendly countries, to play their role in deescalating the situation. As offered earlier, “we are ready to cooperate with India on any actionable information that can be helpful in the investigation”, he added. President Dr. Arif Alvi stressed that Pakistan wants to see peace in the region and focus on our agenda of socio-economic development. He pointed out that Pakistan’s successful fight against terrorism is a clear manifestation of our desire and commitment to peace. President Dr. Arif Alvi also welcomed Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu’s statement, highlighting the Kashmir issue as the root cause of strained relations between India and Pakistan and the need to resolve it as per the United Nation Security Council Resolutions. He also appreciated Turkey’s offer of help in resolving this longstanding issue. During the conversation, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he understands Pakistan’s position in this present scenario. He appreciated and admired Pakistan’s handling of the situation and its efforts for de-escalation. President Dr Arif Alvi said that the people and the Government of Pakistan were looking forward to his visit to Pakistan. President Dr. Arif Alvi stated that Turkey’s strong support on Pakistan’s core national issues is our enormous strength. He emphasized that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close and cordial fraternal relations based on the solid foundations of a shared faith, culture and heritage. He added that strong bilateral relationship with Turkey is one of Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities and we are desirous of further strengthening and broadening the existing excellent bilateral relations in the years ahead.
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