Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to deepening a strategic bilateral partnership, pledging enhanced cooperation in defense, trade, regional peace, and sustainable development.

During a “warm and cordial” meeting in İstanbul, the leaders expressed gratitude for Turkey’s diplomatic support during recent regional tensions, including the stand‑off with India. They committed to increasing annual bilateral trade to $5 billion and endorsed progress from the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held earlier in Islamabad.

Key areas of renewed cooperation include:

  • Defense and security: joint military exercises, technology transfer, and counter-terrorism collaboration.
  • Economic integration: expansion through joint ventures in renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, IT, and defense production.
  • Regional stability: shared efforts toward peace in South Asia and support for Palestinian humanitarian issues.
  • Institutional ties: activation of working groups on health, IT, banking, media, aerospace, and education frameworks.

This strategic engagement reinforces the historic brotherly bond between Islamabad and Ankara and paves the way for targeted action across economic and security domains.