Pakistan's Qureshi holds talks in Ankara, Konya after meeting in Istanbul

Following a two-day ministerial level meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) in Istanbul, meant to facilitate international aid to ensure and maintain Pakistan's stability in the face of terrorist activities by the Taliban, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, and was also received by President Abdullah at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara. Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with Qureshi, Davutoglu said that Turkey and Pakistan enjoy model ties, as they have good relations in all areas. Stating that although they are not immediate neighbors Turkey and Pakistan share a common destiny, Davutoglu called for stronger bilateral trade and economic ties. On his talks with Qureshi, Davutoglu said the Turkish and Pakistani foreign ministries would soon establish a strategic mechanism to set a framework for cooperation and coordination on issues related to Asia. He also said the two countries would also cooperate in the transportation sector in order to improve their economic ties. For his part, Qureshi said he was pleased to visit Turkey's cultural capital Istanbul, political capital Ankara and spiritual capital Konya. Characterizing his talks in Turkey as fruitful, Qureshi said that Pakistan has always been and will always be Turkey's friend. On economic relations, Qureshi said both countries have dynamic private sectors that could help boost economic ties. The two later proceeded to the central Anatolian province of Konya, where the tomb of world-renowned mystic poet Mevlana Rumi is located. In Konya, Qureshi and Davutoglu visited Konya Greater Municipality Mayor Tahir Akyürek, and witnessed the signing ceremony of a pact making Konya and Multan, Pakistan – Davutoglu and Qureshi's respective hometowns – sister cities. The friendship between Pakistan and Turkey is a historical one which is known by the entire world, Davutoglu said at the ceremony, and added, "Every Pakistani and every Turk are siblings to each other. Their views regarding the world, their reactions to incidents, and their vision of the future are same." Davutoglu and Qureshi also visited the Mevlana Museum and its tombs of Mevlana Rumi and Şems-i Tebrizi, who helped guide Rumi's spiritual development, and watched a performance by whirling dervishes at Gulbahce. Davutoglu also invited his Pakistani counterpart to next year's Şeb-i Arus (Night of Reunion or Wedding Night) celebrations to commemorate Mevlana Rumi on the 736th anniversary of his death in December. The poet characterized death as a reunion or wedding with God. In related news, the Istanbul meeting of the FoDP also served as a preparatory meeting for the first FoDP summit, set to be co-hosted next month in New York by US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.