Turkey joins India in battling terror, backs global convention

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Turkey joins India in battling terror, backs global convention
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New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Putting the 'misunderstanding' over a recent conclave on Afghanistan behind, Turkey Tuesday turned a new chapter in its ties with India by agreeing to jointly combat terror and backed the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

Turkey, a flag-bearer of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference, is the first country in the group that has agreed to work with India in pushing the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) that has been embroiled in differences over competing definitions of terrorism.

The two sides decided to firm up an action plan with timelines and specific measures to jointly combat terrorism after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

The two sides also agreed to intensify scientific and technological cooperation and gave an impetus to trade and investment between the two growing economies.

They also agreed to take forward their talks on a free trade area that has the potential to multiply their current $3 billion trade manifold.

Manmohan Singh set the tone for improving relations, which had remained distant in the past due to Turkey's perceived closeness to Pakistan on the one hand and the Western alliance on the other.

Gul's visit is 'an important milestone to review the state of our bilateral relations and to chart a forward-looking agenda for advancing our multi-faceted cooperation,' the prime minister said.

Keen to assuage India after excluding it from a conclave on Afghanistan in Ankara last month, allegedly at the behest of Islamabad, Turkey went on a damage control exercise and lauded India's contribution to Afghanistan.

Stressing that the special relationship between Turkey and Pakistan 'did not in any way create obstructions for Turkey-India relations', Gul expressed the desire to work together with India in bringing stability to Afghanistan.

The Turkish president sought to allay India's concerns, saying Turkey would 'have liked India to be there and hoped that India would be able to participate in yet another meeting relating to developments in Afghanistan that would be hosted in Turkey later this year'.

'He wished to avoid any misunderstanding relating to a recent meeting in Istanbul on Afghanistan, which emerged from a trilateral format involving Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey,' the external affairs ministry said.

The joint declaration on terrorism came as a shot in the arm for New Delhi as India has been pushing for the finalisation of the CCIT since 1996. The two sides agreed to work together and with other like-minded States for the finalisation of the CCIT at the earliest, said the joint declaration on terrorism.

The convention has been embroiled in differences over the definitions of terrorism with the OIC countries opposing a bid to bring armed forces of states within its purview.

The declaration recognises that 'terrorism poses a great threat to global peace and stability, denounces those who sponsor, abet and instigate terrorism and provide them safe heavens, decides to enhance cooperation in this field by developing an action plan with timelines and specific measures'.

Indo Asian News Service

http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100209/812/tnl-turkey-joins-india-in-battling-terro.html

 

[ajtr]

Isn't it a joke that same turkey ignored india on Afghanistan reconciliation with taliban few moons back on pakistan's insistence and now they wish to join india in battling terror.New delhi took that very seriously and just to cool tempers in south block before it Pm/president? visits india later this month or early march they have initiated this.

 

[tarunraju]

Isn't it a joke that same turkey ignored india on Afghanistan reconciliation with taliban few moons back on pakistan's insistence and now they wish to join india in battling terror.New delhi took that very seriously and just to cool tempers in south block before it Pm/president? visits india later this month or early march they have initiated this.

Actually ajtr, the willingness of Turkey to engage with India so soon after that conclave shows Pakistan wasn't effective. So this is India's way of putting Pakistan in its place. It's a proactive response.

 

[Dark_Prince]

All that said and done, Turkey is an old ally of pakistan, knowing the fact that both Turkey and pakistan had no influence on unkil Sam at the meet; and decision going the pre-decided way. So,Turkey didn't open its mouth and knowing clearly in long run a defunct pakistan living on life support of its Unkil/Master US of A is of no use to it! Therefore, this dilly-dally new found love.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

(Old pacifying diplomatic tactics wherein diplomats portray everyone won)

 

[thakur_ritesh]

yes the sudden turn around has if anything certainly come across as a surprise, where not so long back turkey went on to ignore us at the behest of pakistan on talks centered around a’stan to now with in a span of less than a month, out of no where they not only come across eager to join and give the much needed support from the muslim world to comprehensive convention on international terrorism (ccit) which if passed would have turkey’s ally pakistan with an egg on its face which has always found itself in the center of most terror acts done internationally with the establishment there seen covertly supporting these terrorists, but they also go a step further and invite india over for the next round of talks on a’stan to be hosted by them, this has to be a royal snub for pakistan from someone they thought to be their own, and well in here times it seems have changed as if there were a no tomorrow, one wonders what happened to all the talks of paks-turks brothers in trouble.

it is quite clear money does a talk like none other and if turkey wants to be a part of india’s growth story they will have to listen to what india has to say, especially at a time when turkey looks to realign its relations in a behest to move away from the west, this also gives us a reflection of light in which turkey sees india as an emerging world power. further with this incident, one gets a hang of growing muscle of indian diplomacy where right after the london conference india has flexed them and gained much needed support from the muslim world in particular where the turks went on shower praises on the role played by us in a’stan, with oman, qatar, and iran also toeing the line.

what this also shows us is the utter failure of pakistan’s diplomacy to safe guard its interests even in its own backyard where they had blind faith on the turks of supporting them in any given situation so as to keep their interests intact.

pakistan today comes across as a story which has completely failed on most fronts and they are seen as a parasite than as an asset.

 

[ajtr]

Turks have always sided with pakistan be it 1965 war or on kashmir issue.
Pakistan, Turkey to cooperate in defence industry: Increase in trade volume discussed

Both leaders expressed identity of views on regional and global issues and Mr Erdogan called for early resolution of the Kashmir dispute. The two prime ministers said they discussed the entire gambit of bilateral relations and regional and international issues, including Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iran, the Middle East and the proposed UN reforms.

“We believe that all approaches made by Pakistan for peaceful resolution of Kashmir are very positive and we appreciated them,” the Turkish prime minister said.

“Turkey fully supports Pakistan on Kashmir. This problem should be tackled as soon as possible.

The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965

Indonesia promised MiG-19s and MiG-15s besides other equipment after Asghar Khan gave President Ayub's letter to Indonesian President saying that he expected Indonesia to help us in our "dire need." Help was also sought from Iran which provided sanctuaries for Pakistan Air Force aircraft, Iraq which actually supplied a dozen F-86s and spares, and from Turkey.

 

[Taimur Kashmiri]

All that said and done, Turkey is an old ally of pakistan, knowing the fact that both Turkey and pakistan had no influence on unkil Sam at the meet; and decision going the pre-decided way. So,Turkey didn't open its mouth and knowing clearly in long run a defunct pakistan living on life support of its Unkil/Master US of A is of no use to it! Therefore, this dilly-dally new found love.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

(Old pacifying diplomatic tactics wherein diplomats portray everyone won)

Yes Turkey has always been a strong ally of Pakistan and will continue to be so.

As for "living on life support" --- i think it's a very immature statement that has little merit. Our economy was performing fantastically under the previous regime. A poor security environment contributed very negatively to our economy, as did the supply-demand gap in electricity. Even then, IMF and Moodys have upgraded their assesment on Pakistan.



Pakistan is a responsible country, and we denounce terrorism in all its forms and manifests.

 

[gogbot]

Yes Turkey has always been a strong ally of Pakistan and will continue to be so.

Turkey has the EU and NATO line.
Its as much an ally to you as the rest of NATO and EU are to you.

As for "living on life support" --- i think it's a very immature statement that has little merit. Our economy was performing fantastically under the previous regime. A poor security environment contributed very negatively to our economy, as did the supply-demand gap in electricity. Even then, IMF and Moodys have upgraded their assesment on Pakistan.

You crashed your car trying to tailgate India, constantly bumping into her.
you ended up in the IMF hospital and doctor Sam while treating your injuries, discovered you also had serious case of passive terrorism infecting you right into your bones
Doctor Sam now hell bent on destroying terrorism, wants you to fight the disease inside of you.

this is because, Sam will use your anti-bodies to cure Afghanistan who is too weak to fight terrorism on her own. Afghanistan was Infected by Pakistan during a blood transfusion years ago.
Doctor Sam presiding now sees an opeertunity to fix his mistakes

But so far Pakistan is refusing treatment because India keeps coming to visit Afghanistan to help in its recovery.

And Pakistan also realizes as long as Afghanistan is sick, It gets free care from Doctor Sam as well as a Hospital room and service.
So it has procrastinated as long as possible.

In its weakened state the Passive terrorism has become active and has resulted in Pakistan fighting for its life.

Now Uncle Sam is forced to place Pakistan "on life support" and hope that its anti-bodies can prevail over the terrorism.

See that metaphor is completely valid.

Pakistan is a responsible country, and we denounce terrorism in all its forms and manifests.

Well in that case hold your leaders to account.
The last person who tried to talk peace with India got ousted.

That tells you the kind of people running your country.

 

[GokuInd]

Turkey has the EU and NATO line.
Its as much an ally to you as the rest of NATO and EU are to you.
.

I beg to differ.
For all its secular credentials, NATO membership and EU rapprochment, Turkey remains deeply entrenched in Islam. Contrary to what the EU has decreed, ehtnic and religious minorities are not supposed to be treated equally (Christians & Kurds in particular). Besides, there are constantly tensions between Turkey and namely Western Europe over human rights issues that have so far barred Turkey from attaining membership (it won't happen in near future anyway). Moreover, their contribution to the Afghanistan mission is not that siginificant vis-a-vis France, Italy, Germany let alone the UK.

So it's hardly suprising Turkey meddles itself into affairs in Islamic world (Middle East, and yes Kashmir) and therefore takes active part in the OIC. Since then, they have always supported Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute - which is hypocrisy at its best given their dismal human rights record
Pakistan gets OIC support on Kashmir dispute
Turkey’s help for Azad Kashmir to continue: Erdogan

 

[gogbot]

I beg to differ.
For all its secular credentials, NATO membership and EU rapprochment, Turkey remains deeply entrenched in Islam. Contrary to what the EU has decreed, ehtnic and religious minorities are not supposed to be treated equally (Christians & Kurds in particular). Besides, there are constantly tensions between Turkey and namely Western Europe over human rights issues that have so far barred Turkey from attaining membership (it won't happen in near future anyway). Moreover, their contribution to the Afghanistan mission is not that siginificant vis-a-vis France, Italy, Germany let alone the UK.

So it's hardly suprising Turkey meddles itself into affairs in Islamic world (Middle East, and yes Kashmir) and therefore takes active part in the OIC. Since then, they have always supported Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute - which is hypocrisy at its best given their dismal human rights record
Pakistan gets OIC support on Kashmir dispute
Turkey’s help for Azad Kashmir to continue: Erdogan

Then why is the US trusting them with F-35's.

I always assumed this signified their similar interests, in the region.

Especially with Israeli in the MIx..

Well either way, as long as Turkey decides to stay out of the Kashmir issue and Support India in the fighting terrorism.
I dont believe there will be much problems

 

[GokuInd]

Then why is the US trusting them with F-35's.

Turkey is one of many potential customers of the Joint Strike Fighter Programme. Even so, they are not the primary target for sale of this bird.

I always assumed this signified their similar interests, in the region.

Nothing remains constant, certainly not over the course of time. True, Turkey is into the NATO camp. However, they refused to support the US during Operation Iraqi Freedom. With the latest dissent between US and Turkey (the Armenian issue), relations will be rather cool for the time being IMO.

Especially with Israeli in the MIx..

Hope this answers your point:

Well either way, as long as Turkey decides to stay out of the Kashmir issue (...).
I dont believe there will be much problems

Like I said before, this is not going to be the case.