The Turkish prime minister is on a two-day official visit to Pakistan aimed at further strengthening the relationship between the two countries. Addressing a joint press conference after private talks at the Pakistani Prime Ministry yesterday, in response to a question on a recent attack on Iranian revolutionary guards, Erdoğan said he discussed the issue with Gilani and will also discuss it with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a visit to Tehran after completing talks in Islamabad. “We will proceed to Iran and we will have the opportunity to discuss this issue with the Iranian president. We need to act in concert to ensure that the region finds peace and stability,” Erdoğan said.
In early October a suicide bomber killed five senior commanders of the powerful Revolutionary Guard and at least 37 others near the Pakistani border, an area where the Sunni insurgency has been escalating. The attack -- which also left dozens wounded -- was the most high-profile strike against security forces in an outlaw region of armed tribal groups, drug smugglers and Sunni rebels known as Jundallah, or Soldiers of God. Iran held Pakistan, as well as the United States and Britain, responsible for the bombing.
Responding to another question about infiltrations from Afghanistan into Pakistan and Turkey's role, being a member of NATO, in dealing with this, Erdoğan said his country will assume the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on Nov. 1 while terming the problem a “disturbing issue.”
“It is the biggest mistake to kill a person in the name of religion,” Erdoğan said, and pointed out that terrorism recognizes no boundaries or religions. Urging flexibility and tolerance, he said, “No matter what ideology one has, he should try to find some middle ground.”
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