Turkey condemns Islamabad Blast
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

ISLAMABAD: Turkey on Sunday strongly condemned the heinous terror attack that took place here due to which a Turkish citizen Sacide Ender Kayi Baskaya lost her life and many other received injuries.

Following is the text of statement issued by the Turkish Embassy on Sunday:

“Turkey strongly condemns the heinous terror attack that took place in Islamabad, the capital of friendly and brotherly Pakistan last night, in which, according to initial reports, Turkish citizen Sacide Ender Kayi Baskaya lost her life and many others were injured.

Turkey fully supports Pakistan, which is continuing its democratization with determination through the recent general elections, in its fight against terrorism and extremism. Turkey follows the terror attacks, which target the peace and stability of the Pakistani people with great grief and concern.

Lastly, after the explosions in Lahore on 11 March 2008, Abdullah Gul, President of the Republic of Turkey called Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan and conveyed his condolences and reconfirmed Turkey’s solidarity with Pakistan.

Turkish citizen Mrs. Sacide Ender Kayi Baskaya, who lost her life on last night’s attack, was a member of “Support to Life” (Hayata Destek), a Turkish non-governmental organization that engaged in humanitarian aid activities in Pakistan since the earthquake of 2005.

From the moment of the explosion, developments were closely followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad and necessary steps were taken.

In the meanwhile, Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan called Engin Soysal, Turkish Ambassador in Islamabad and expressed his sorrow over the death of Mrs. Kayi Baskaya and requested his sympathies to be conveyed to Abdullah Gul, President of the Republic of Turkey and to the Turkish people.
Turkey will continue its support to and solidarity with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and extremism with determination.

We feel deep sorrow over the death of our citizen Mrs. Sacide Ender Kayi Baskaya, who lost her life on this abhorrent attack by bloody-handed terrorists, while helping the Pakistani people. We express our condolences to the Kayi Baskaya family, wish swift recovery to the injured and also convey our sympathies to the people of Pakistan.”●