Pakistan tweet sparks hopes of Islamabad recognizing North Cyprus

A tweet published on Saturday by Pakistan’s Embassy in Turkey has sparked hopes over the prospect of Islamabad officially recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The post, shared via the embassy’s official Twitter account, detailed the schedule of a three-day visit by the consular team to “Northern Cyprus” that will take place between July 11– 13.

The tweet is seen as a significant step towards Islamabad recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as speculations mount over whether an official recognition can be expected in the future.

A Greek report published following Azerbaijan’s victory in Karabakh mentioned five countries that are said to be planning to recognize Northern Cyprus, including Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Libya, Bangladesh and Gambia.

Cyprus has been mired in a decades-long struggle between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the UN to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

The island has been divided since 1964, when ethnic attacks forced Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into enclaves for their safety. In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aiming at Greece's annexation led to Turkey's military intervention as a guarantor power. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was founded in 1983.

The Greek Cypriot administration, backed by Greece, became a member of the European Union in 2004, although most Greek Cypriots rejected a UN settlement plan in a referendum that year, which had envisaged a reunited Cyprus joining the EU.