PM Shehbaz, President Erdoğan Pledge to Boost Pakistan-Türkiye Strategic Partnership

Istanbul:  Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepen the multifaceted cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye, pledging to work closely for regional peace, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.

The renewed commitment came during a warm and cordial meeting between the two leaders in Ankara as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Türkiye on a two-day official visit. He was accompanied by Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye Dr. Yusuf Junaid.

The meeting reflected the historic, deep-rooted, and brotherly ties between the two countries, grounded in shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for progress. Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed profound gratitude to the Turkish leadership and people for their steadfast support during recent developments in South Asia, terming Türkiye’s solidarity as a source of immense strength and reassurance for Pakistan.

Highlighting Pakistan’s recent military successes in Marak-e-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the Prime Minister praised the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of Pakistan’s armed forces and the patriotism of its people in defending the homeland.

The two sides conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and reiterated their resolve to elevate the strategic partnership to greater heights. They followed up on the implementation of key decisions made during the 7th session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), held in Islamabad on 13 February 2025, and reaffirmed their resolve to achieve the target of US$5 billion in annual bilateral trade.

Emphasizing the importance of economic cooperation, Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the potential for joint ventures and enhanced investments in key sectors such as renewable energy, information technology, defence production, infrastructure development, and agriculture.

Regional and international issues also featured prominently in the discussions. The two leaders reiterated their principled positions on core concerns, including unwavering support for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN resolutions. They also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access for the Palestinian population.

To honour the visiting delegation, President Erdoğan hosted a dinner for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his accompanying officials, further symbolizing the warmth and closeness of the Pakistan-Türkiye relationship.