Army chief Munir begins two-day Turkey visit, building on deepening military ties

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, arrived in Turkey on Monday for a two-day official visit, according to state media.

Munir received a warm welcome upon landing, Radio Pakistan reported, citing security officials. State-run Pakistan Television and the Associated Press of Pakistan also confirmed his arrival.

During the visit, Munir is scheduled to hold meetings with Turkey’s military and political leadership to discuss matters of mutual interest. Radio Pakistan described the talks as “important,” though further details on the agenda were not disclosed.

The trip follows a visit last month by General Metin Tokel, commander of the Turkish Land Forces, who traveled to Pakistan and met with Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The two discussed matters of mutual professional interest, regional security developments, and opportunities to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, according to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations media wing.

During his stay, Tokel also visited Naval Headquarters in Islamabad, where he met with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf. ISPR said the two discussed professional matters and the regional maritime security environment.

Tokel later met with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at Air Headquarters to discuss bilateral military cooperation. ISPR said the Turkish commander praised the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and credited them with contributing to regional peace and stability.

Pakistan and Turkey have long described their relationship in terms of close, “brotherly” ties, underpinned by strategic, political, defense, and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. The two leaders reaffirmed their nations’ longstanding relationship and pledged to expand economic cooperation, setting a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion.