Turkey to play role in stopping US attacks in Pakistan.

This is from thenews.jang.
It is not clear that Turkey will be able to stop any US attacks by virtue of complaining about them in NATO. The US tells NATO what to do not vice-versa. However, no doubt other NATO countries as well may join in with Turkey. The UK has also condemned the attacks.


Turkey to play role in stopping US attacks

Sunday, November 02, 2008 By Rauf KlasraISLAMABAD: Turkey becomes the first country to assure Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in clear words that Istanbul will play a major role in stopping the US from attacking the Pakistani tribal areas.As a follow-up to this assurance from an important member of the Nato force operating in Afghanistan, COAS Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is being rushed to Turkey by the prime minister to further discuss the issue.Sources said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had sent a loud message to his Nato allies in Europe on how seriously Ankara took its relationship with Pakistan, which was now under the threat of attacks from the Nato forces in Afghanistan.The source said that the loud commitment on the part of Turkey was being taken as a major achievement of PM Gilani during his trip to the country.Talking to The News, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Zahid Bashir confirmed that Turkey had told Pakistan that it would use its “influence” as an important Nato member to stop the US incursions into the Pakistan territory. Top-level sources have confirmed to The News that in the bilateral talks, Turkey expressed its complete support to Pakistan on its 3-D policy for fighting terrorism. Ministers of interior and justice of the two countries would now coordinate cooperation in security matters. The sources said that Pakistan would also form a Pakistan-Turkish parliamentary friendship league to promote parliamentary exchanges and cooperation.Gilani and Turkish prime minister agreed to initiate joint concerted efforts to increase the present volume of bilateral trade from $690 million to $1 billion in the near future.Turkey would also encourage its firms to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, agro industry, construction, thermal and infrastructure sectors. Besides, Turkey will help Pakistan develop its tourism industry and tourism related infrastructure.