Pakistan and Turkey Forge Stronger Ties With 24 Agreements
During Erdoğan’s visit to Islamabad, Pakistan and Turkey affirmed their commitment to a two-state solution and called for Jerusalem to be recognized as the rightful capital of Palestine
[Islamabad] Pakistan and Turkey have committed to furthering their efforts to achieve a trade volume of $5 billion.
This was agreed upon during a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during which 24 memorandums were signed. This meeting was held on the sidelines of the Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council gathering in Islamabad on Thursday.
In a subsequent press conference, President Erdoğan stated that “both countries have agreed to expand the scope of their current goods trade agreement as the initial step.”
Erdoğan highlighted that the “expansion of military dialogue and defense industry cooperation has played a key role in enhancing trade and investment ties between the two countries.”
“We have reached an agreement with Sharif to achieve a $5 billion trade volume between Turkey and Pakistan,” Erdoğan said. “As a first step, we are expanding our existing goods trade agreement.”
He also commended Pakistan’s unwavering stance on the Palestine issue, saying both countries will continue to work together for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Addressing the ceremony, Sharif added: “Our position on Gaza is very clear, Turkey has always supported Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue, Pakistan will always support Turkey’s position on the Cyprus issue.”
The state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s call for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Sharif further said, “Within the framework of this visit, we have signed a total of 24 agreements and MOUs in the fields of trade, water resources, agriculture, energy, culture, family and social services, along with science, banking, education, defense, and health.”
The joint statement from the seventh meeting of the Turkey-Pakistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council highlighted key agreements, including a memorandum of understanding between the Export Credit Bank of Turkey and the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan.
Other agreements covered collaboration in aerial and electronic warfare, joint military health training between Turkey’s defense industry and Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production, and cooperation between Turkish Aerospace Industries and Pakistan’s Naval Research and Development Institute.
While addressing the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum in Islamabad, Erdoğan emphasized the importance of enhancing road and railway connectivity to boost trade between the two countries.
He said that projects like the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul trade railway line and initiatives such as the Middle Corridor and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would benefit the entire region. “These projects, approached with a holistic perspective, will foster greater trade and cooperation,” he noted.
Sharif assured Turkish investors and businesspeople of full support and facilities for investment and trade in Pakistan.
Erdoğan arrived in Islamabad late Wednesday night for a two-day visit, at the invitation of the Pakistani prime minister.
Upon his arrival, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif greeted Erdoğan at the Nur Khan Air Force base, where he was accompanied by the Turkish first lady.
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As Erdoğan’s plane entered Pakistani airspace, JF-17 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force escorted it to Islamabad, where a 21-gun salute was fired in his honor.
Erdoğan visited with a high-level delegation that included ministers, senior officials, and business leaders.
Later, upon his arrival at the prime minister’s house, a contingent of the Pakistani armed forces presented a guard of honor. Erdoğan witnessed a fly past of Pakistani air force fighter jets and planted a tree in the lawns of the prime minister’s house.
Turkey was among the first to recognize Pakistan in 1947, quickly establishing diplomatic ties. The two countries have long maintained strong defense and economic ties, with Turkey supplying military equipment, and both nations collaborating on defense technology and joint ventures. Their cooperation extends to infrastructure, trade, and investment, with growing bilateral trade.
High-level visits, joint military exercises, and collaboration in forums like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have deepened ties. Both countries have worked together on regional challenges, such as the Afghan peace process and counterterrorism.
In recent years, Pakistan-Turkey relations have strengthened into a lasting bilateral strategic partnership, with growing cooperation, particularly in the defense sector.
Pakistan is the first country to procure warships from Turkey under the Turkish military’s MILGEM project. Additionally, Pakistan has already acquired advanced drones from Turkey, including the Akıncı, Bayraktar, and TB2.
The Pakistan-Turkey joint venture for the development of a fifth-generation fighter jet is also making steady progress. Both countries have agreed to establish an assembly line for the TFX fifth-generation fighter jet in Pakistan, further strengthening their defense collaboration.
Muhammad Shareh Qazi, a Lahore-based global security analyst specializing in nuclear diplomacy in South Asia, described Erdoğan’s visit to Pakistan as “part of a broader strategy aimed at deepening economic partnerships and enhancing bilateral cooperation.”
Qazi noted that Turkey and Pakistan share a comprehensive framework under the 2019 High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, which serves as the foundation for their expanding economic and defense collaboration.
He told The Media Line that a key aspect of this partnership is Turkey’s rapidly growing defense industry—an essential pillar of its emerging military-industrial complex.
According to Qazi, given the high costs associated with American defense technology and international reluctance toward Chinese defense products, Turkey has positioned itself as a viable alternative.
Qazi pointed out that Turkey has already established a strong global footprint in unmanned combat aerial vehicles, and the rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions present an attractive market for its defense exports.
Erdoğan’s recent diplomatic outreach has already resulted in significant defense agreements, Qazi said, which reflects his intent to secure new, albeit potentially vulnerable, markets seeking military modernization.
Furqan Rao, an Islamabad-based international affairs analyst and executive director of the Center for Democracy and Climate Studies, told The Media Line that Erdoğan’s visit to Pakistan “comes at a pivotal moment, as evolving regional and global power dynamics shape strategic decisions.”
As Pakistan continues to grapple with security challenges, with recent militant attacks heightening vigilance, Erdoğan’s visit “proceeded as planned, underscoring Turkey’s confidence in Pakistan’s security measures and the resilience of their diplomatic ties,” Rao said.
Rao emphasized that Erdoğan’s visit carries broader geopolitical significance beyond bilateral relations, “particularly in fostering unity among Muslim nations.”
He noted that “both Pakistan and Turkey maintain a firm stance on Gaza, rejecting foreign interference and affirming that the land rightfully belongs to Palestine.”
The halt in USAID funding has highlighted the need for economic and strategic diversification, leading Islamabad to explore alternative partnerships, including with Turkey’s development aid agency, TİKA.
“Amid shifting regional dynamics, Pakistan is adjusting its foreign policy and forging new alliances to enhance stability and security,” Rao said, adding that “the halt in USAID funding has highlighted the need for economic and strategic diversification, leading Islamabad to explore alternative partnerships, including with Turkey’s development aid agency, TİKA.”
Rao underscored that as global pressures mount, the Turkey-Pakistan alliance reflects a broader move toward self-reliance and regional cooperation.
Muhammed Bilal Iftekhar Khan, a Lahore-based international relations scholar and defense analyst, said that Erdoğan’s visit highlights Turkey’s “diplomatic and strategic weight amid shifting geopolitics.”
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in Gaza, has heightened tensions, with Turkey actively advocating for Palestinian causes,” Khan told The Media Line.
Turkey’s foreign policy remains complex, shaped by its involvement in Syria—fueling tensions with Iran and Russia—as well as ongoing maritime disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to Khan, “Turkey’s foreign policy remains complex, shaped by its involvement in Syria—fueling tensions with Iran and Russia—as well as ongoing maritime disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
“Given the intensifying crisis in Gaza, Erdoğan’s visit was most likely aimed at coordinating diplomatic action with the OIC and other international groups,” he added.
Furthermore, Khan noted that both Turkey and Pakistan face major counterterrorism challenges, with Turkey facing Kurdish insurgency and Pakistan dealing with cross-border fighting. “These mutual security concerns present avenues for increased collaboration in intelligence sharing, counterterrorism strategies, and building defense capabilities,” he said.
Discussing Pakistan’s economic landscape, Khan highlighted that “the country’s economic vulnerabilities, coupled with shifting regional dynamics following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, have influenced its geopolitical positioning.”
“While Pakistan maintains strong strategic ties with China, its relationship with the US continues to evolve as India’s role in American strategic calculations expands,” he said.
Khan said defense cooperation remains “a cornerstone of Turkey-Pakistan relations.”
Turkey has played a key role in assisting Pakistan’s naval modernization, transferring defense technology and engaging in collaborative military projects. This growing partnership enhances both countries’ security postures and strengthens their broader strategic alignment in the region.
“Turkey has played a key role in assisting Pakistan’s naval modernization, transferring defense technology and engaging in collaborative military projects,” Khan said. “This growing partnership enhances both countries’ security postures and strengthens their broader strategic alignment in the region.”
