New Delhi (Monitoring Desk) — Hakan Fidan has said that Turkey’s close and brotherly relations with Pakistan should not be seen as a problem for India in any way.
According to Hindustan Times, while addressing a program of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, Hakan Fidan said that India should not view Turkey’s relations with Pakistan as an act against it or as hostility.
He clarified that Turkey is not the only country maintaining close and friendly ties with Pakistan, as several other countries around the world also have strong relations with Islamabad.
The Turkish foreign minister further said that if a country expresses displeasure over other nations’ relations with Pakistan, then such a stance raises legitimate questions.
According to Hindustan Times, Turkey and Pakistan share decades-long political, diplomatic, and defense relations, and Turkey has also supported Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue.
Experts say the statement reflects that countries pursue independent foreign policies based on national interests, and bilateral relations should not be interpreted through the lens of third countries.
They further noted that in a changing global environment, respecting sovereign diplomatic choices is essential for effective foreign policy.