Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the world had noted that Pakistan handled its recent conflict with India with calmness and wisdom. He added that fraternal ties with Pakistan need to be turned into an institutional partnership. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan and Turkiye are looking to enhance their cooperation in several avenues.
Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad, Dar said that regular exchanges between Pakistan and Turkiye are a hallmark of our strong and brotherly relationship.
“The bonds of friendship between Pakistan and Turkiye are so strong and antural that we consult each other very frequently on a range of bilateral and regional issues. In today’s fast changing international environment, such frequent consultations are more required than ever before,” he said.
“Pakistan greatly appreciates Turkiye’s indigenization of its defence industry from 20% to 80% in the last two years. We would like to benefit from Turkiye’s experience and expertise. We wish to further strengthen our cooperation by promotion of peace and stability in our entire region,” he added.
Dar added that all 12 joint committees formed between Pakistan and Turkiye to enhance cooperation have already met or will meet soon.
He added that Pakistan is establishing a special economic zone for Turkiye’s entrepreneurs in Karachi and the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train is being revived. He added that a Maarif school is being established in Muzzafarabad and Turkish companies are being considered for mega construction projects in Pakistan. He added that Turkish companies will participate in offshore drilling projects and privatisation of electricity distribution companies.
Dar said that the two countries will also pursue a deeper cooperation in defence and counter-terrorism.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan considers Turkiye a trusted friend and reliable brother which has always stood by us. “History is full of examples of this brotherhood, latest being the recent Indo-Pak conflict,” he added.
“This is a relationship that cannot be explained in words, you have to be a Turk or Pakistani to understand the affection and trust that we have for each other,” he said.
“I reaffirm that Pakistan will always stand shoulder to shoulder with its Turkish brothers and sisters,” Dar addedd.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Dar’s remarks were more or less his remarks and could be considered a joint statement.
Fidan described his visit along with defence minister as productive and thanked Pakistan for its hospitality.
“The exceptional relationship between Turkiye and Pakistan reaffirms the fraternal relations between the two countries,” Fidan said.
He added that the duty that falls on the governments of Pakistan is to transform the fraternal ties into an institutional partnership. He added that strong steps were being taken to ensure this happens. He added that the two countries are looking to strengthen cooperation in economy, energy, defence, education and cultural areas.
Fidan said that the two countries want to take their commercial relations to a volume of $5 billion. He added that the air connection between the two countries was already productive but land and sea communications should be further strengthened.
He also confirmed that cooperation in defence would be further strengthened which would help secure both countries. He added that Pakistan has provided Turkiye valuable support in its counterterrorism operations.
Fidan said that recent events have proved that solidarity and cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye is really important.
He added that Turkiye had followed the India-Pakistan conflict closely and the international community noted Pakistan’s wisdom-oriented and calm attitude of Pakistan. He added that conflict between two nuclear powers can have severe results.
The Turkish FM said that Israel’s actions have far reaching consequences and said that he hoped the ceasefire with Iran would be permanent. He added that conflicts should be solved through diplomacy.
