Pakistan on Wednesday urged the media in Turkey to play their role inspotlighting various issues related to Kashmir and, in particular, thetales of “half-widows” and prisoners.
Addressing a ceremony in the capital Islamabad, Pakistan National AssemblyKashmir Committee Chairman Shehryar Afridi said his government is“employing modern media tools to protect the heritage of Kashmir.”
“Pakistani and Turkish media should narrate the tales of half-widows andprisoners of conscience of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir toworld audiences,” Afridi told the launch ceremony of the website “TurkeyUrdu,” which aims to bring the two countries closer.
Half-widow refers to Kashmiri women whose husbands have disappeared duringthe ongoing conflict in Kashmir. These women do not know if their husbandsare dead or alive.
“Turkish media is available to Pakistan to present its good image abroad,”Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul said at the occasion.
“Building a narrative is important in today’s world, but I believe that nowwe have many, many media that you can use to spread the true, genuine imageof Pakistan around the world,” Yurdakul said.
He urged the Pakistani pubic to watch Turkey’s English-language channel TRTWorld and follow Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s premier news provider.
“They are making very in-depth, correct analyses, putting everything in inthe right perspective,” the ambassador added.
“We have TRT Urdu, which is also available online, and we have AnadoluAgency’s representation here in Pakistan. It is up to you and us to come upwith a receptive narrative,” he said.
‘New soul to Muslim heroes’
Afridi, the committee head, said Turkish media has reduced “the influenceof Western media on Muslim youth.”
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“It is unparalleled,” he said, and added: “Turkish media has instilled anew soul to Muslim heroes.”
Referring to popular Turkish TV series exports such as Dirilis Ertugrul andYunus Emre, Afridi said Pakistan and Turkey will fight the “case of therevival of the Muslim ummah, and the future world will present thePakistan-Turkey friendship as a model for world nations.”
“The media’s role in modern times has proved its utility,” he said. “Theway the Western world has used modern media tools to distort the image ofMuslims proves this. They have distorted history through misusing mediatools. This is why Prime Minister Imran Khan has been urging that the mediabe used to project the true image of Pakistan and the Muslim ummah.”
He added: “Turk Lala is another project of Tekdin Films, and the KashmirCommittee is supporting this initiative.”
Turki Lala, a series proposed by Turkey and Pakistan, will highlight therole of South Asian Muslims in the sub-continent during the Balkan Wars.
“We are projecting Kashmiri culture through all modern tools, includingart, culture, and the performing arts. Humanity needs to be protected andpromoted, and the Kashmir cause will be projected and promoted,” he added.
Ambassador Yurdakul urged Pakistanis to make efforts to “boost economic,commercial and investment exchanges between the two countries.”
“With better business conditions in Pakistan and a better understandingthat Turkish companies working in this country are an important asset forPakistan, I am sure more Turkish investors and entrepreneurs will come tothis beautiful country,” he said.