Pakistani PM heads to Turkey for talks on Middle East crisis

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for Ankara Friday on a one-day official visit to Turkey for talks on the Middle East crisis, the PM office said.

Sharif will meet Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"Main purpose of his visit is to consult the brotherly Islamic country on the current crisis in the Middle East," a statement from the PM office said.

In his pre-departure statement, Sharif said Pakistan believes in peaceful resolution to the crisis and wishes to promote unity among the Muslim nations.

He expressed the hope that his sincere efforts may result in promoting harmony and stability in the Middle East.

The prime minister regarded bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey as unparalleled in terms of mutual trust, understanding and close cooperation.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry are accompanying the PM, the statement said.