Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Turkey is one of the key Muslim countries in the region and Pakistan-Turkey cooperation would have positive impact on regional peace and stability. The Army Chief observed it during his day-long official visit to Turkey. According to the Pakistan Army media wing, the COAS called on Turkish Minister of National Defence General (Retd) Hulusi Akar and other senior military leadership on Wednesday. The meeting covered matters of mutual interests, regional security situation including recent developments in Afghan peace process and bilateral defence and security cooperation in various fields between two countries. The COAS acknowledged the Turkish engagements with Pakistan especially the ongoing efforts for continuing the positivity for peace in the region. The dignitaries on the occasion appreciated Pakistan’s positive role for regional peace and stability, especially the Afghan peace process and pledged to continue working for better relations between two brotherly countries. Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a two days official visit to Republic of Azerbaijan where he called on President of Azerbaijan IIham Aliyev, Defence Minister Colonel General Hasanov Zakir Asgar, Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan Colonel General Eyvazov Vilayat Suleyman Oglu and military leadership during the visit. The leadership of the two countries discussed the matters of mutual interests, bilateral defence and Security Cooperation, regional security, and recent developments in Afghan peace process. Both sides vowed to enhance bilateral military and regional cooperation between the two nations. After meeting with Azerbaijan’s leadership, the Army Chief said, the emerging geo-strategic paradigm in the region necessitated Pakistan and Azerbaijan to have close cooperation and collective response against common challenges. Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has paid two consecutive foreign tours of brotherly Muslim countries Azerbaijan and Turkey during recent days. The three nations have consensus on regional and international issues and have close working relationships and cooperation at international level. The regional geo-strategic landscape is changing rapidly, particularly ongoing US withdrawal from Afghanistan and lack of any consensual political arrangement in the war-torn country is posing a serious threat to peace and stability of the whole region.
Furthermore, the United States is pressing the regional countries for provision of military bases for future operations against terrorist groups in Afghanistan. Pakistan categorically refused to provide any military base to US Special Forces or CIA for future operations in Afghanistan. Because Pakistan thinks it will increase terrorism and radicalization in the Country. However, Turkey has offered America to retain its military troops in Afghanistan for security of Hamid Karzai International Airport for the purpose of Afghanistan connectivity with the rest of the world. According to Analysts, most of the Central Asian states are not ready to honor America’s request for using their bases, however some may be agreeing to allow their space for the purpose of air lines of communications (ALOC) to the US military. Turkish President Recep Tayyab Erdogan suggested that Turkey and Pakistan can play their joint role in protecting Kabul international airport after US withdrawal. However, Pakistani leadership is not ready for any physical involvement in neighboring Afghanistan and wants to play only a supportive role in Afghan peace process. Some regional experts are suggesting that America is likely to use Azeri land for its military basing while using Turkmen’s airspace it can easily fulfill its intended mission in Afghanistan. Most likely, this possibility has been discussed between Pak-Turk-Azeri Troika during the recent visit of the Army Chief to both countries. However, the situation would be more readable during the coming few weeks.
