Islamabad: Pakistan and Turkiye have pledged to transform their bilateral ties into a strategic partnership with mutual benefits. This commitment was expressed during a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting included a comprehensive discussion on various bilateral, regional, and global issues of shared interest. The discussions were followed by the 7th Session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which both leaders co-chaired. During the HLSCC, ministers from both countries presented progress reports from nine Joint Standing Committees focused on different areas of cooperation. Additionally, two new Joint Standing Committees on Health and IT presented their findings.
The meeting also saw participation from Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, emphasizing the importance of military cooperation in the strategic dialogue. Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the need to deepen economic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye through effective actions, increased business interactions, and facilitating bilateral investments. He encouraged Turkish companies to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s economic, trade, and investment sectors, particularly in agriculture, new technologies, energy, and mining.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed gratitude towards President Erdogan for his consistent support on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, reaffirming Pakistan’s backing of Turkiye on matters of national interest. The leaders also addressed developments in the Middle East, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s call for a two-state solution, advocating for an independent Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital, consistent with UN and OIC resolutions.
The meeting culminated in the signing of a Joint Declaration and the exchange of 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Protocols, and Agreements in various areas of bilateral cooperation. The leaders also inaugurated a plaque naming a major interchange in Islamabad after the Turkish President, symbolizing the close ties between the nations.
Pakistan and Turkiye share a historically warm relationship, and President Erdogan’s visit, along with the 7th HLSCC Session, is expected to further strengthen these fraternal bonds. Earlier, President Erdogan was received by Prime Minister Sharif, inspected a Guard of Honour, witnessed a flypast of PAF fighter jets, and planted a tree at the Prime Minister’s House.