By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday, reaffirming their nations’ close ties and tackling regional security concerns, including a recent military flare-up with India that nearly escalated into full-blown conflict.
Sharif arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, kicking off a five-day regional diplomacy tour that will also take him to Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, nations that backed Pakistan during its clash with India earlier this month.
The confrontation, which saw missile, drone, and artillery strikes traded across the border, left around 70 dead on both sides before a ceasefire took hold on May 10. The worst fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades, it was sparked by an attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir on April 22, an assault New Delhi pinned on Pakistan. Islamabad rejected the accusation.
Erdoğan greeted Sharif at the presidential palace for talks, later hosting a dinner for the Pakistani leader and his team.
“The engagement reaffirmed the deep-rooted, historic, and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, anchored in shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for progress and prosperity,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
Turkey vocally backed Pakistan during the standoff, with Erdoğan phoning Sharif on May 7 after India’s initial missile strikes hit Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. Analysts credit Turkey, alongside the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with helping secure the ceasefire.
Sharif, joined by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff lauded Türkiye’s principled stance and the outpouring support of goodwill of the Turkish people for Pakistan and termed it as a source of great comfort and strength for Pakistan.
Beyond security, the leaders zeroed in on economic cooperation, targeting renewable energy, IT, defense production, infrastructure, and agriculture for joint projects.
“Emphasizing the need to further strengthen economic cooperation, particularly through joint ventures and enhanced bilateral investment, the Prime Minister highlighted key sectors including renewable energy, information technology, defence production, infrastructure development, and agriculture as areas of mutual interest and potential,” the statement said. “The two leaders conducted a comprehensive review of the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and reiterated their resolve to elevate the strategic partnership to greater heights.”
They also followed up on the implementation of key decisions taken during the 7th session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), held in Islamabad on February 13, 2025. “Both sides agreed to take steps for achieving $5 billion annual bilateral trade target as agreed earlier by the two leaders.”
In addition to bilateral issues, Prime Minister Sharif and President Erdoğan discussed pressing regional and international developments. “Both leaders reaffirmed their principled support for each other’s core concerns, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” the stamen said. “They also expressed deep concern over the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, urgently calling for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected Palestinian population.”
Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq dar, Information & Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye Dr. Yusuf Junaid were also part of Pakistan delegation.
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