President Abdullah Gül visited Bharat (aka India) and talked about this that and the other. The main topic of discussion in Istanbul a few days ago was Afghanistan–and Turkey snubbed Delhi by not inviting it. To rub salt into the wound, Turkey backed Pakistan in London and ostracized Bharat for the solution in Afghanistan.

Some Bharati apologists had claimed that the Indo-Turkish summit would somehow apologize for Istanbul’s rebuff, they would kiss and make up  and everything would be OK.

Nothing close to that happened. Mr. Gul went to Delhi, talked about this-that-and-the other, had a nice dinner and then signed some insignificant agreements.

In Istanbul, it was Bharat’s turn to rebuff Turkey. Ankara had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. This was shot down by Delhi.

‘Pakistan is our neighbor, and as one of our leaders has said, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your neighbors; so we are destined to live together, side-by-side. We are open to a dialogue with Pakistan on all issues,’ says Indian Ambassador to Turkey Raminder Singh Jassal, noting that India does not see any need for a third party in resolving its issues with Pakistan

President Abdullah Gül met with Turks living in India and gave Indian-Turkish dictionaries to students of Turkish schools in India.
On the occasion of a landmark state visit to India, Turkey and the giant South Asian country have released two substantial joint declarations on the issues of counterterrorism and science and technology.

On Tuesday morning President Abdullah Gül was accorded a ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the president of India. Indian President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were present at the welcome along with other dignitaries.

Following talks with President Patil, Gül held separate talks with both Prime Minister Singh and Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna. Taking part in a meeting organized by Indian umbrella business organizations, Gül found the chance to underline once more the importance Turkey attaches to improving economic and commercial ties with India.

With the joint declaration on terrorism, India and Turkey, which have both suffered from terrorist attacks and are both concerned about the volatile environment in India’s near neighbor Afghanistan, they declared their recognition that terrorism poses a grave threat to global peace and security.

“Recognizing the need for the conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism as a vital component of the international legal framework in the global struggle against terrorism; calling on the international community to conclude the convention without further delay,” the two countries agreed “to work together and with other like-minded states for the finalization of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the earliest.”

As for the declaration on scientific and technological cooperation, the two countries recognized that “cooperation in science and technology will not only advance the state of science and technology to the benefit of both countries, but also strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding between our peoples.”

Ankara and New Delhi, on this occasion, launched an “Advanced Science and Technology Dialogue” which “will strive to promote the maximum use of the opportunities that have risen for mutually beneficial interaction in the field of science and technology which would add to the strength of the two national economies and to the welfare and prosperity of the two peoples.”

During 2010 India and Turkey will convene a joint workshop with designated representatives to elaborate on and bring into being the Advanced Science and Technology Dialogue in accordance with the joint declaration. India, Turkey cement ties on terrorism, and technology. 10 February 2010, Wednesday, TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES ANKARA

Afghanistan was not even mentioned in the meeting. It was however the 5000 pound gorilla in the media events.

Late last month, ahead of an international conference on Afghanistan in London, the Afghan and Pakistani presidents and senior diplomats and ministers from the UK, the US, Iran, Tajikistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and several representatives from international agencies gathered together for the ?stanbul Summit on Friendship and Cooperation in the Heart of Asia, hosted by Gül.

Indian officials conveyed their disappointment at the time to Turkish officials over the fact that they were not invited to the regional conference, while reliable sources speaking with Today’s Zaman said the reason for India’s absence at the conference stemmed from Pakistan’s objection conveyed to the Turkish side.

“India is a too large a country to feel offended,” Jassal replied when asked whether India felt offended for not being invited.

“We have been involved in Afghanistan ever since the Bonn process and before because we have a historical affinity with Afghanistan, and our commitment is not going to go down. We’ll continue to work toward peace and stability in Afghanistan and hope that the country will become a factor of stability in the whole region,” Jassal added. Today’s Zaman