Islamabad:A senior Turkish lawmaker has called for Pakistan to be admitted as a full member of the Organisation of Turkic States, describing the two countries as 'kindred states' bound by history, culture and faith.
Ali Sahin, a member of Türkiye's Grand National Assembly and chairman of the Turkey - Pakistan Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group, said relations between Ankara and Islamabad were 'uniquely deep, multidimensional and without parallel'. In a statement, he argued that the bond 'extends far beyond diplomatic or strategic cooperation', calling it a 'genetic relationship shaped by historical, cultural and spiritual codes'. The mutual sense of affection and belonging, he said, was 'passed down through generations'.
Sahin cited linguistic and cultural links as a key basis for Pakistan's potential membership. He noted that Urdu's development was significantly shaped by Turkic-Islamic states, adding that the word 'Urdu' derives from the Turkish 'Ordu', meaning 'army'. Thousands of Turkish-origin words remain in everyday Urdu, he said, forming 'a strong layer of cultural kinship'.
He said that region was ruled for centuries by Turkic-origin dynasties including the Ghaznavids, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. The period produced 'deep social and even genealogical intermingling', he said, pointing out that millions in Pakistan today bear surnames such as 'Turk', 'Barlas', 'Qizilbash' or 'Uzbek'.
