Turkey and Pakistan leaders pledge to work together for stable, peaceful Afghanistan

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif met this week in Ankara for discussions and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties and work together to help promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The two leaders meanwhile raised concerns about the growing number of illegal Afghan immigrants in their countries but said they have agreed on ways to address the problem.

“Illegal immigration that we are working on together. We have sent enormous aid to Afghanistan, including food, and we will continue to do so,” Erdogan said.

Sharif meanwhile said in an interview with Turkish media that 95 percent of Afghanistan’s population is under the poverty line and needs immediate humanitarian assistance.

“Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis and a complete economic collapse which 95 percent of its population is under the poverty line; they need immediate humanitarian assistance. The world and the Islamic countries have a responsibility to help the people of Afghanistan in need. The international community must not let the black history to be repeated in this country,” Sharif said.