PAKISTAN: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYS PAKISTAN HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN FIGHTING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Record ID: 217808

  • Title: PAKISTAN: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYS PAKISTAN HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN FIGHTING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
  • Date: 16th June 2003
  • Summary: (W1)ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JUNE 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. MV PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER, ZAFARULLAH KHAN JAMALI, AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, WALKING; MV GUARD OF HONOUR STANDING TO ATTENTION; MV ERDOGAN INSPECTING GUARD OF HONOUR (4 SHOTS) 0.16 2. MV JAMALI INTRODUCING ERDOGAN TO MILITARY OFFICIALS 0.21 3. SLV SIGNING CEREMONY (3
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ISLAMABAD,PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Reuters ID: LVADU75ZCCEZ0X45R52K0G85VFIV
  • Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has said Pakistan
    has an important role to play in fighting international
    terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism.

    Erdogan, on a three-day visit of Pakistan, to boost
    bilateral ties, told a news conference in Islamabad on Sunday
    (June 15, 2003) that Pakistan also had a very important role to play
    for peace and security in the region.

    "It (Pakistan) has a great, important role in fighting
    international terrorism, and Pakistan has a very important
    role in dealing with fundamentalist movements," he said.

    His comments come as the Pakistani government is locked in
    a bitter dispute with Islamic parties of Muttahida
    Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) over presidential powers and the role of
    the military in the country's politics.

    Pakistan's military president, General Pervez Musharraf,
    is also caught in a tussle with the MMA, over the promises of
    the Islamists to impose Islamic sharia law in a province
    bordering Afghanistan.

    Critics say the Islamic sharia law, and some of the other
    steps announced by the MMA government of North West Frontier
    Province, were reminiscent of the policies of hardline Taliban
    ousted from power in neighbouring Afghanistan in late 2001.

    Musharraf said twice last week there was no room for
    Talibanisation in the country.

    Erdogan did not say what he expected Pakistan to do to
    curb Islamic militancy and to stem fundamentalist movements,
    but Turkey itself has worked hard to control extremism and its
    powerful military has an active role in the country's
    politics.

    Pakistan, a key ally of the U.S.-led international
    coalition to fight terrorism, has arrested hundreds of
    militants, many linked to al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden,
    blamed for September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

    Erdogan is accompanied by a 100-strong businessmen
    delegation and is due to meet Musharraf on Monday (June 16).


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register