Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to deepen defense cooperation and expand bilateral trade to $5 billion, amid growing regional instability and shared strategic interests.
High-level meetings took place in Islamabad on Wednesday as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yasar Guler met with Pakistani leadership following their arrival early Wednesday.
Turkiye has long backed Pakistan, especially during times of regional tension, including past flare-ups with India. The latest visit by Ankara’s top foreign and defense officials reflects a renewed push to strengthen ties. Their arrival in Islamabad set the stage for a full day of high-level discussions involving both civilian and military leadership.
On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yasar Guler met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, at the Foreign Office. Later, they visited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at his official residence. That meeting was attended by some of the country’s most senior figures, including Field Marshal Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, the National Security Adviser, and the head of the ISI, Lt General Asim Malik.
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The presence of senior civil and military officials underscored the strategic importance both sides place on their alliance.
According to an official statement, Prime Minister Sharif warmly welcomed the Turkish delegation and described Pakistan-Turkiye relations as “deeply rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual respect.” He noted the steady progress in bilateral relations and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in trade, defense, investment, and technology.
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Referring to his recent engagements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, including a meeting on the sidelines of the 17th ECO Summit, the prime minister said both countries were working to evolve their partnership into a full-fledged strategic alliance.
He expressed hope that the convening of the latest Joint Commission meeting, co-chaired by Ministers Dar and Fidan, would provide fresh momentum to ongoing collaboration in multiple sectors.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
