Pakistani parliament speaker hails Turkey's resilience

Sardar Aziz Sadiq made the remarks before his meeting with Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman in the Turkish capital.

Sadiq said the people of Pakistan got "really worried" on the night of the failed coup. "You [Turkish people] have shown us how resilient and what a great nation you are by overthrowing the coup bid," he said. "You have set an example for other nations to follow," he added.

Kahraman hailed the "unique brotherhood" bond between Turkey and Pakistan.

"The special relation between our countries and our people has been proven numerous times with the support we gave each other in our national causes," he said.

He also mentioned that Pakistan's National Assembly had declared its support for the Turkish government after the July 15 coup bid. "I received that declaration and I currently keep that declaration on my wall," he added.

The visiting Pakistani speaker also asked for Turkey’s support on the Kashmir issue.

Last week, Pakistani prime minister’s special envoys on Kashmir met senior Turkish lawmakers, including Kahraman and Turkey-Pakistan Friendship Group Chairman Muhammet Balta in Ankara.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full.

The two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965 and 1971 – since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.

Since 1989, Kashmiri resistance groups in Indian-held Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for its independence or for its unification with neighboring Pakistan.

More than 70,000 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict so far, most of them by the Indian Armed forces. India maintains more than half a million troops in the disputed regions.

Anadolu Agency