Turkish, Pakistani foreign ministers discuss grain deal, response to desecration of Quran

By Muhammet Tarhan

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and discussed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's response (OIC) against increasing attacks on the Quran, as well as the extension of the Black Sea Grain initiative, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

Zardari, in a tweet, said he commended Ankara’s "role in achieving the landmark Black Sea Grain Corridor agreement," and "extended Pakistan’s full support to international efforts in reviving the agreement."

"Also expressed the strongest condemnation of acts of desecration of the Holy Quran in several European cities and resolved to work with and other Islamic states to prevent such incidents," he added.

Earlier this week, Sweden-based Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, 37, stomped and kicked the Holy Quran, just weeks after he set fire to pages of the holy book outside a Stockholm mosque.

Meanwhile, Moscow pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal, which was brokered by the UN and Türkiye last year to reduce the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine on global food prices. The agreement had ensured the safe passage of more than 32 million tons of Ukrainian grain.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for restoration of the deal, and also called on Western countries to consider Russia's demands.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul