ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries through a cultural night held in Ankara.
After beginning with the playing of Turkey and Pakistan’s national anthems, the program continued with a performance by Turkish musicians singing songs in both the Urdu and Turkish languages.
Ali Sahin, a member of the Turkish parliament and former deputy minister of the European Union, gave the opening speech at the event.
“We organised this cultural night to show you how proud we are to celebrate the excellent level of bilateral relations,” said Sahin.
“Pakistan has always had a special place in the hearts and minds of our nation, and we know that Turkey has a unique place in the hearts and minds of the Pakistani brothers and sisters.”
Speaking at the event, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey, Yousaf Junaid, underscored that relations between the two countries are 75 years old, adding: “The relationship between our two nations goes well beyond the establishment of our two republics.”
“Our special relationship is embedded in common cultural, religious and spiritual heritage, transcending boundaries of time, geography and politics,” he emphasised.
“We look at our relations as a sacred trust that has been passed on to us by our forefathers and which we are pledged to hand over to our succeeding generations,” he said, referring to the support given by both Ankara and Islamabad to each other when faced with harsh times.
The event ended after Qawwali singers took to the stage to sing traditional songs in their native dress.
Qawwali music is a “unique” Sufi-Islamic devotional music “based on mysticism and spiritualism” as Junaid described.
Relations between the two countries have developed on the basis of close friendship and brotherhood since the establishment of Pakistan as an independent state on August 14, 1947. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ankara and Islamabad.
The support extended by the Muslims of the subcontinent to the Turkish War of Independence has a special place in the minds of the Turkish people. Turkey’s success in establishing a modern state after the war has been a source of inspiration for Pakistan.
Following the establishment of Pakistan, reciprocal high-level visits developed friendly relations further, while the two countries’ support for each other in getting through the most difficult challenges such as at times of natural disasters led to a deepening of close relations between the peoples.
