India and Turkey to hold extensive talks tomorrow

New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj and her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu will holdwide-ranging talks on a range of bilateral and regional issueswhich may include deliberations on situation in West Asia andways to counter threat of terrorism. Earlier this month, Turkey had asked India to act againstthe institutions affiliated to the network of Fethullah Gulen,blamed for last month’s failed coup to topple PresidentTayyip Erdogan, and the issue may figure in the discussionsbetween the two foreign ministers. "The entire gamut of bilateral relations as well asmultilateral and regional issues are likely to be discussedduring the talks,’ External Affairs Ministry SpokespersonVikas Swarup said. Cavusoglu will also call on Vice President Hamid Ansaritomorrow. During his three-day visit, the Turkish ForeignMinister is also scheduled to visit Hyderabad on August 20 toopen the Turkish Consulate building. Relations between India and Turkey have witnessed steadyprogress. The bilateral trade is also increasing and touchedUSD 6.3 billion last year. "We hope the visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister willfurther strengthen our bilateral ties," said Swarup. This Cavusoglu’s first official visit to India. He was inIndia on a transit halt last year and had met Swaraj. President Erdogan has vowed to take strong action againstthose linked to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who he hadblamed for the July 15 coup attempt. Tens of thousands of troops, civil servants, judges andofficials have already been detained or dismissed in a massivecrackdown following the failed coup. PTI MPBSK