Pakistan, Türkiye Reaffirm Strategic Partnership in Defence Talks

Islamabad — Pakistan and Türkiye have pledged to further deepen their strategic partnership and bilateral cooperation as Turkish Minister of National Defence Yasar Güler met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Güler, who is in Pakistan to co-chair the Pakistan-Türkiye Joint Ministerial Commission, was warmly welcomed by the prime minister and his delegation.

PM Shehbaz underscored the historic and fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Türkiye, rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual respect. He expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in bilateral ties and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding collaboration in trade, investment, technology, and defence.

Recalling his recent meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in China, Shehbaz emphasized the importance of frequent high-level engagement to strengthen relations further.

The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s goal of achieving the USD 5 billion bilateral trade target, urging both sides to make concerted efforts toward this milestone. He also invited Turkish companies to take advantage of Pakistan’s investor-friendly policies and expand their investment footprint in key sectors.

Both leaders reaffirmed mutual support for each other’s core national interests, stressing the importance of closer defence cooperation and enhanced regional coordination. They agreed to continue working together to elevate the Pakistan-Türkiye strategic partnership to new heights.

The meeting concluded with a dinner hosted by PM Shehbaz in honor of the Turkish Defence Minister and the Pakistan-Türkiye Joint Ministerial Commission delegation, symbolizing the strong friendship and growing collaboration between the two brotherly nations.