Ankara Urges Pakistan to Close Schools Linked to Cleric Gulen

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu urged on Tuesday the Pakistani authorities to cooperate in the fight against supporters of US-based dissident Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of masterminding the coup attempt in the country, and to close schools and institutions that have links to Gulen.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — According to Cavusoglu, who spoke at a press conference after talks with the Pakistani prime minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Ankara had asked Islamabad to take action against some educational institutions even before the military coup attempt.

"The request [to close Gulen-run schools] was made when [Pakistani] President Mamnoon Hussain visited Turkey [in April]," Cavusoglu said. "Such an organization [of Gulen supporters] poses risk and threat to security and stability in any country in which it exists. This terrorist organization has a global network of schools, business associations and cultural institutions."

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakiria told The Express Tribune national daily earlier in the day that the both countries' authorities were in touch with each other on the issue of addressing Turkey's concerns while keeping in mind the importance of avoiding disruption in academic activities for a sizable number of students.

On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded. Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers of playing a key role in the coup. Gulen has denied the accusations.