ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called upon the Muslim Ummah to forge unity and take practical measures to counter the threat of terrorism.

Addressing joint session of the Parliament in Islamabad today, he said terrorist organizations are brining bad name to the Islam, which religion of peace and also to the Islamic world.

He said terrorist organizations like Daesh and Al-Qaeda are inflicting damage only on Muslim countries. He said Fethullah Gulen, while sitting in Pennysilvania, is dreaming to rule the entire world. He thanked Pakistan for extending necessary cooperation in tackling the challenge thrown by the organization of Fethullah.

He said terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaida and its affiliate DAESH are the agents of the war carried out against Islam which are only and solely harming Muslims. We should eliminate these bunches of killers, who have no other skill than to shed Muslims’ blood, from the Islamic world and from all over the world as soon as possible. He cautioned that otherwise, neither Turkey, nor Pakistan, nor the world of Islam, or mankind will attain peace.

The Turkish leader spoke at length on deep-rooted and historic relationship between people of Pakistan and Turkey and said they are real brothers. He said the two countries have always been sharing each other's joy and grief.

He referred to the sacrifices rendered by Muslims of South Asia during Khilafat Movement and said the Turkish nation would every remain indebted to Pakistan. He said people of Turkey cherish their memories with the wholehearted assistance rendered by Pakistan after 1999 earthquake in Turkey.

President Erdogan recalled that Pakistan declared a day of mourning after the mining disaster in Soma in 2014 in his country and Turkey declared on day official mourning after terrorist attack on Peshawar school.

He said Pakistan was the first country to stand by Turkey after the 15 July coup attempt in Turkey.

The Turkish President said our target is to further expand multidimensional relationship with Pakistan in different fields including defense, culture, education and health. He said both the countries have set the target of enhancing the bilateral trade to one billion dollars.

He said both the countries have signed over fifty one MOUs and agreements over the last few years. He said we need to focus on such projects that also create job opportunties for our peoples.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said both Pakistan and Turkey are blessed with immense capabilities and we do not need to bow before others to exploit this potential. He said his country is assisting Pakistan in the execution of different development projects and also offering scholarships to Pakistani students up to the doctorate level.

He emphasized the need for strong relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan saying this is vital for peace and security in the region.

Voicing concerns over the situation in Kashmir, he said the events in Kashmir continues to hurt our conscience.

He said the latest developments in Kashmir once again demonstrated the importance and the urgency of the solution of  this problem. We are aware of the distress and suffering of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. We are deeply concerned about the increase of tension.

He said the international community should exert further efforts in order to solve this issue, which has political and humanitarian dimensions, according to justice and law.

He said the resolution of this dispute lies in dialogue between Pakistan and India for which Turkey is ready to extend any cooperation.

Earlier, welcoming the Turkish President, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq paid glowing tributes to the visionary leadership of Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  He said credit goes to the heroic      people of Turkey and   courageous Members of the Grand National Assembly for rising in in one voice to protect and preserve their constitution and democracy.

He said the people of Pakistan and Turkey are intertwined in eternal bonds of shared religion, history, culture and common ancestry.

He said the peoples of two countries have courageously faced the   common challenge of terrorism and rendered innumerable sacrifices   for   regional and global peace. ·

The brave armed forces of Turkey and Pakistan have   inflicted fatal blow to global terrorist networks   like   DAAISH and launched historic operations like Zarb-e-Azb.

The speaker said both nations have always strongly advocated the cause of marginalised and oppressed people world-wide be it the Palestinians, the Turk Cypriots or the people of Occupied

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the bold stance of Turkey on Kashmir has won millions of hearts as it helped in shaking the international conscience about inhuman situation imposed by India in occupied Kashmir.

Giving a brief overview of Indian belligerence, he said Pakistan is optimistic that   through unwavering support like that of Turkey , the people of Kashmiris will get their right to self-determination in near future.

The joint session of the parliament has now been prorogued. -Radio Pakistan