Pakistan Navy Ship YARMOOK is currently making a port call in Turkey on its transit to Pakistan. The ongoing visit symbolizes the historic and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkey as well as ever-growing cooperation between the two sides in the area of defense.
PNS YARMOOK was extended a very warm welcome by the Turkish Navy upon its arrival and was escorted from Bosphorus to Gölcük Naval Base by Turkish coast guard. During the ongoing visit, the Commanding Officer PNS YARMOOK called on Turkish Navy Fleet Commander, Surface Fleet Commander, Gölcük Naval BaseCommander and the Mayor of Gölcük. During these interactions, he conveyed the warm sentiments of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi NI(M), for the people of Turkey in general and the Turkish Navy in particular. He also conveyed his gratitude for the whole hearted support provided by the Turkish authorities for PNS YARMOOK’s port call. Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and Pakistan Navy’s role in ensuring global maritime safety and security were also highlighted during these meetings.
During these interactions, the two sides expressed their satisfaction at the ongoing bilateral cooperation and reiterated their commitment towards continue strengthening their relations in all areas of common interest.
A reception dinner was hosted onboard PNS YARMOOK on 4 March 2020 in which the Fleet Commander Turkish Navy, Vice Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu, Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, and senior officers of Turkish Navy as well as representatives of Turkish defence industries participated.
Speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, Syrus Sajjad Qazi said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoyed unparalleled fraternal relations and have always stood by one another in the face of all challenges. He welcomed the ever-expanding defense cooperation between the two sides and assured Pakistan’s continued support for Turkey’s legitimate security and humanitarian concerns in the region.
Commanding Officer PNS YARMOOK in his remarks on the occasion highlighted the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K). He also condemned India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in IOJ&K in contravention of the international law and called for the resolution of dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.