Historical Background:
Pakistan and Turkey enjoy
exemplary ties based on commonalities of faith. culture, history and
traditions. The relationship between both the countries is characterized by
exceptional warmth, cordiality, mutual trust and understanding.
Today these bonds have
transformed into a mutually beneficial strategic partnership.
Pakistan-Turkey relations date
back to the Khilafat movement, which was launched by the Muslims of the
sub-continent even before our independence in 1947. This Movement aimed at
preventing division of the Ottoman Empire is still cherished as the epitome of
the historical nature of the relationship between the two sides where Muslim
volunteers from Subcontinent joined hands in support of the Turkish troops. The
anecdotes of Muslim women from sub-continent selling their possessions and gold
and silver items to support the Khilafat Movement is still remembered with
warmth in the Turkish academia and general public discourse.
Both the sides established
diplomatic relations immediately after creation of Pakistan in August 1947.
Yahya Kemal Beyatii, first Turkish Ambassador, presented credentials to
Quaid-e-Azam on 4 March 1948, whereas, Mian Bashir Ahmed, first Pakistani
Ambassador to Turkey, presented credentials to President Ismet Inonu in June
1949, which ushered in a new era of brotherhood between the two nations.
Both the countries signed an
Agreement for Friendly Cooperation, in April 1954. Later after one year,
Pakistan and Turkey joined CENTO in 1955. Moreover, they formed an organization
Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD), along with Iran in 1964, which was
later transformed into Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in 1985 as
successor to RCD. ECO expanded to become 10-member Organization in 1992. Turkey
also became a member of OIC Contact Group on Kashmir and always held a stance
on Jammu Kashmir that is in line with Pakistan's interests. Pakistan supports
Turkish position on the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
In the recent times both the
sides have recognized the strategic significance of the relationship. The
relationship is steadily growing in the political, economic, security, defence,
education and cultural spheres. Both the sides are now committed to transform
traditionally cordial ties into a robust economic partnership. The strength of
this relationship is manifested by the fact that we have convergent views on
major regional and global issues. There is close level of cooperation in
multilateral fora between the two sides.
Public and Cultural Diplomacy
Culturally Pakistan and Turkey
have been very close due to the historical relevance of the ties. Bilateral
Cultural Agreement between the two states was signed in June 1953. Since then
there has been no turning back and both the sides have had exchanges in
cultural, educational and scientific and public areas that will hardly find
parallel in modern history. From student exchanges to scholarships to exchange.
of writers and academia, the two countries have been heavily engaged in such
interactions on regular basis. A Coffee table book has also been published
recently titled 'Journey of Friendship' a pictorial history of Pakistan-Turkey relations
since inception to date.
In recognition of the services
for the promotion of Urdu language and literature and Pakistan-Turkey Cultural
cooperation, the Government of Pakistan awarded Istanbul University's Chairman
of Urdu Department, Prof. Dr. Halil Toker, with "Sitara-e-Imtiaz".
President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain conferred this award upon Prof. Dr. Halil
Toker during the investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadar, Islamabad on 23rd March
2017. In the 7th International Buhara Medya Awards, Pakistan's Ambassador to
Turkey, Sohail Mahmood, was presented "Diplomat of the Year" award by
Buhara Medya at a ceremony in Ankara on 25th January 2017.
Pakistan hosted 13th ECO Summit
on 1st March 2017 in Islamabad Turkish President Erdogan also participated in
the Summit ushering in a new era of regional connectivity. More colors were
added to the brotherly ties with celebrations of 70th Year of Diplomatic ties,
when the famous Turkish Mehtar Band of Ottoman era took a spectacular part in
Pakistan Defense day on 23rd March 2017. In 2017, as a part of these
celebrations, the Turkish Whirling Dervishes (Maulana Rumi's disciples) paid a
country tour to Pakistan.
On the Turkish side, Pakistan's
mission in Akara is also actively engaged in holding literary and cultural events.
In order to increase collaboration between the film music industry of both the
countries renowned director, producer and actor Mr. Javed Sheikh is shooting an
upcoming Pakistani film "Wajood" in Turkey.
A number of MoUs/Agreements in
multiple areas of cooperation are also in place between the two countries. At
Higher Education Level (HEC) both sides have close collaboration that oversees
the exchange of academia and students for higher studies on both sides.
All these interactions and warmth
in bilateral ties prove that Pakistan and Turkey are two countries with a
shared destiny. Our hearts beat together and all these colors of the 70th
anniversary of diplomatic relations embolden the beauty of our bonds.
Allama Iqbal and Turkey
Allama Iqbal was born at Sialkot
on November 9, 1877 and had his early education at Government College, Lahore.
Later he also studied at Cambridge, and the University of Munich. After his
education he taught philosophy at Government College Lahore and practiced law.
He was elected (1927) to the Punjab provincial. legislature and served (1930)
as president of the Muslim League. He became a staunch supporter of an
independent homeland for India's Muslims and he is regared as the spiritual
founder of Pakistan. Iqbal was the foremost Muslim thinker of his period, and
in his many volumes of poetry (written in Urdu and Persian) and essays. he
urged a regeneration of Islam through the love of God and the active
development of the self. He was a firm believer in freedom and the creative force
that freedom can exert on men. He was knighted in 1922. His works include The
Secrets of the Self (1915), and Javid-nama (1934), Iqbal is the national poet
of Pakistan.
He has in fact been called
"the most serious Muslim philosophical thinker of modern times."
Iqbal is the best articulated Muslim response to Modernity that the Islamic
world has produced in the 20th century.
Rumi is M.Iqbal's great master
whom he calls "Pir-i-Rumi (The master from Anatolia), and he names himself
as "Murid-i-Hindi (The Indian disciple). In his Asrar-o-Rumuz Iqbal
claims, "The saint Rumi has changed my earth into an elixir and out of my
dust has produced much splendour." It means that there is a great impact
of Rumi on Iqbal's spiritual teachings. When we study Rumi and Iqbal side by
side, we find two bodies in one shirt. There are more than 250 poets in Turkey
that follow the great master Rumi but Iqbal's interpretations are the most
up-to-date. It is Rumi's Masnevi that seems to influence Iqbal the most. Great
Persian poet Mulla Jami says this about Rumi's Masnevi. "The Masnevi of
the spiritual master (Rumi) is the Koran in Persian." This statement is
very true. Thus many teachings of Iqbal depend on the Holy Quran, directly or
indirectly.
Turkey has also established an honorary
grave of Allama Muhammad Iqbal at Mevlana Rumi's Shrine. The epitaph on the
grave translates as 'this Honorary resting place has been granted to Muhammad
Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet, by his spiritual master, Mevlana Rumi
Mehmet Akif ERSOY
Mehmet Akif Ersoy was born in
December 1873, in his father's home in a neighborhood by the name of Sariguzel,
in the Fatih district of Istanbul He commences his schooling life at the
community school "Emir Buhari' in Fatih, when he was 4. After 2 years of
education at the Emir Buhari, he continued his schooling. respectively, at
primary (iptidal), secondary (rustiye) and high school (idadi) Muallim Naci was
the literature teacher at this school, where he accomplished the first
three-year term and lost his father as he was at the first grade of the senior
section (1888). To complete the conditions for his education as well as to get
a shortcut job he entered the Veterinary Faculty in 1889. He pursued his
education at this school at the Ahirkapi campus for two years (day school) and
another two years as a boarding student at the Halkali campus. As mentioned. he
was the first graduate of the school and top of the class.
Akif's close affinity with music
dates back to reed-flute (ney) classes he took from Neyzen Tevfik. Akif's
knowledge of music as the fruit of his invested efforts allowed him to achieve
a level of skill in playing the musical instrument. His interest with music
gave him the opportunity to know and savor many oeuvres of classical western
music.
His innate penchant for languages
allowed him to easily learn Arabic, Persian and French, which he learned so
well as to follow the literature of these languages and translate them.
At the age of 20, he learnt the
Holy Koran by heart.
Mehmet Akif is widely known as a
poet. However, less known than his verse he also penned down other critical
prose and translated. Although overshadowed by his verse, his other writtings
are no less reflective of his personality as a great man of ideas and
endeavors.
Akif published his nationalistic
poems, which were unprecedentedly fluid, simple and speaking of the life and
sentiments of his people. Nearly 50 poems of Akif were composed-including the
National Anthem, the Independence March'- and important ones were translated
into Arabic.
Akif was renown and loved by the
people as a grand Islamic figure.
National poet of Turkey, who
wrote unique National Anthem by putting into words his great love of country,
was at the same time a great thinker and activist. He acted as a spiritual leader
during National Struggle as an Islamic elder known and loved by the people for
his strong faith and commonsense. In addition to these virtues, he has worked
successfully in many fields as veterinarian, educator, preacher, hafiz, Koran
interpreter, and athlete.
Akif died on December 27, 1936.
His grave, today, is located at the Martyr's Memorial at Edirnekapi, which is
called the Mehmet Akif Square.
To Commemorate 70th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Pakistan,
souvenir sheet and first day cover themed Turkey - Pakistan Joint Stamp,
containing Pakistan's National Poet Allama Muhammad IQBAL and Turkey's National
Poet Mehmet Akif ERSOY, will be issued on 09-11-2017
On 70th Anniversary Pakistan and Turkey Deplomatic Relation Joint Issue, the Souvenir Sheet containing 2 stamps in souvenir sheet of Rs/-20 denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on November 09, 2017.
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