PAKISTAN and Turkiye enjoy close cultural, historical and military relations, which are gradually expanding into deeper ties as both countries seek to develop their economies.
Briefly speaking from a historical perspective, their relations date back generations before the establishment of the two states, more precisely to the time of the Turkish War of Independence, when the Muslims of the undivided subcontinent sent financial aid to the declining Ottoman Empire, which was later followed by the formation of the Turkish Republic.
It is also worth mentioning here that Turkiye has all along been quite firmly supporting Pakistan’s principled position of holding of a plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations in accordance with the world body’s Security Council resolutions in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir territory to enable the struggling, suffering and bleeding Kashmiris for more than seven and half decades to secure freedom from Indian shackles of slavery and decide their future themselves.
Turkiye’s stance was reaffirmed by Turkish President Erdoğan when he addressed a joint session of the Parliament during his recent visit to Pakistan.
It is certainly noteworthy that the top leadership of both brotherly countries, Pakistan and Turkiye, has vowed to further strengthen their partnership for regional peace and development.
This positive and welcome development occurred when, as part of his recent visits to several brotherly countries, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid a two-day visit to Turkiye.
This marked his fourth visit to the country.
During this visit, PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held bilateral talks in a free and frank manner in Ankara.
They expressed their complete satisfaction with the ongoing positive trajectory of their multifaceted bilateral relations and reiterated their commitment to continuing concerted efforts to further strengthen their strategic partnership.
Their discussions focused on fostering peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.
They also underscored the enduring fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, reaffirming their firm commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors for the mutual benefit of both nations.
According to the reports available, PM Shehbaz Sharif availed the opportunity to emphasize the importance of enhancing economic collaboration, especially through launching of joint ventures and making bilateral investment, highlighted the vast potential for further promoting cooperation in energy and mining, joint ventures in defence and agricultural production, enhancing regional and bilateral connectivity for boosting mutual trade and enhancing people-to-people exchanges as well as further deepening cooperation in the emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber security.
Needless to mention that the fast changing and developing technologies were direly needed by developing countries like Pakistan.
On his part, President Erdoğan duly appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause and its ongoing humanitarian assistance for the war-hit Palestinian people.
The Pakistani PM and the host Turkish President, during their bilateral discussions, also deliberated on a number of regional and global issues and matters and reaffirmed their mutual support for each other on issues of national interests and also expressed their heartfelt deep concern over the humanitarian situation in war-torn Gaza, called for an immediate ceasefire and the unhindered and unobstructed humanitarian assistance to the war-hit people.
During the discussions, Pakistani and Turkish leaders also deliberated over the follow-up actions being taken at the appropriate levels both in Ankara and Islamabad regarding the decisions taken during the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation council (HLSCC) which was held in Islamabad in February 2025 during the Turkish President’s important and friendly visit.
Both Pakistan and Turkiye are long-standing strategic partners and they duly ensure to maintain frequent high-level exchanges which quite obviously reflect the exceptional bonds of brotherhood between the two nations.
The recent visit by the PM to Ankara represented continuation of this robust dialogue and also underscored the shared commitment to continue making mutually beneficial efforts and elevating the multifaceted partnership between Turkiye and Pakistan.
The PM’s visit to Turkiye and his interaction with Turkish President Erdoğan has once again quite emphatically reaffirmed the unshakeable and time-tested friendship between Pakistan and Turkiye their enduring brotherly relationship, which was deeply rooted in the shared history, common values and mutual respect has quite successfully continued to flourish across diverse mutually beneficial domains from strategic partnerships and defence collaborations to launching of joint economic ventures and frequent people-to-people exchanges.
This augurs well for both the brotherly countries and their people in short and long terms, to say the least.
—The writer is Lahore-based freelance journalist, columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News), Radio Pakistan.(zahidriffat@gmail.com)
