Türkiye to Advance Dialogue for Multifaceted Cooperation Partnership with Pakistan

• Pakistan, Türkiye agree to advance dialogue for multifaceted cooperation partnership
• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler

By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia

Islamabad: Pakistan and Republic of Türkiye have underscored to sustain dialogue between Pakistan and Türkiye and their mutual resolve to further deepening their multifaceted cooperation partnership.

The new development on the diplomatic frontier emerged as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed his country’s “unwavering” commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Türkiye in diverse fields, including trade, investment, technology, and defence.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed these remarks after a meeting on Wednesday with the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler who called in Islamabad on Thursday.

PM Sharif underscored the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and Türkiye that remain deeply rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual respect, a statement from his office said.

Sharif was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik and other senior officials, a statement from the prime minister’s office said.

The premier also expressed satisfaction over the “positive” trajectory of bilateral relations.

Recalling his interactions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the year, including the most recent meeting between the two leaders on the margins of the 17th ECO Summit, Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad’s “firm” resolve to transform Pakistan-Türkiye relations into a strategic partnership in the days to come.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, co-chair of the Joint Commission under the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) framework, and the Minister of National Defence, Yasar Güler, co-chair of the Joint Ministerial Commission, who arrived in Islamabad to foster bilateral partnership.

The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister welcomed the visiting dignitaries and underscored the close and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye. He appreciated the growing momentum in bilateral cooperation and stressed the importance of expanding collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, and energy.

The Turkish Foreign Minister conveyed warm greetings from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and reaffirmed Türkiye’s strong desire to deepen cooperation with Pakistan. He highlighted the profound historical, cultural, and religious bonds that underpin the enduring relationship between the two nations.

“We are aiming to increase our commercial relations to $5 billion by enhancing cooperation in diverse areas, including energy, mining, education, and transportation,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Wednesday.

It may be recalled that during the last session of the HLSCC, held in Islamabad in February this year, both sides had agreed to establish a Joint Commission, co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers, to review the progress of the twelve Joint Standing Committees working under the HLSCC framework. Today marked the first meeting of this Joint Commission.

The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction in sharing that all twelve Joint Standing Committees have either already met or are scheduled to meet in the coming weeks.

In addition, both sides noted the upcoming meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), which is expected to be held in the coming weeks. The JMC will be co-chaired by the Minister of National Defence of Türkiye, Yaşar Güler, and the Minister of Commerce of Pakistan, Jam Kamal Khan. This important platform is expected to further bolster economic cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on a range of regional and global developments. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, security, and development in the region.