The Crossbill News Desk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul on Sunday (May 25), with both leaders vowing to strengthen bilateral cooperation across key sectors including defence, energy, and transportation.
The high-level talks also underscored commitments to bolster joint efforts in education, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism initiatives.
The meeting was attended by senior Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, reflecting the strategic weight of the engagement.
Erdogan emphasized the mutual interest of both nations in deepening solidarity, particularly in areas tied to national security and technological collaboration.
The two sides held a delegation-level dialogue, where Prime Minister Sharif highlighted investment opportunities in renewable energy, information technology, defence production, infrastructure, and agriculture. He also advocated for joint ventures to accelerate economic integration and industrial cooperation.
Both leaders conducted a comprehensive review of the bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their resolve to elevate their strategic partnership.
A key outcome of the discussions was the reaffirmation of their shared commitment to achieving the previously agreed target of $5 billion in annual bilateral trade.
In a post on X, Sharif described the meeting as a step toward consolidating the the relationship between the two countries. He also thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s diplomatic support following recent tensions between India and Pakistan, which flared after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
“Had the honor of meeting my dear brother President Reccep Tayipp Erdogan in Istanbul this evening. Thanked him for his resolute support to Pakistan in the recent Pakistan India standoff which resulted in Pakistan's overwhelming victory Alhamdolillah!Conveyed the sentiments of gratitude from the people of Pakistan to their Turkish brothers and sisters,” Sharif wrote on X.
"We also reviewed the ongoing progress of our multifaceted bilateral engagements particularly in trade and investment and reaffirmed our resolve to continue working closely to further strengthen these unshakable bonds of brotherhood and cooperation," he added.
Earlier this month, Erdogan had publicly expressed solidarity with Pakistan in the aftermath of retaliatory Indian air strikes in Kashmir.
While Ankara also maintains relations with New Delhi, Erdogan’s comments drew criticism in India, where Turkish goods were reportedly boycotted by online retailers and some local businesses.
Despite geopolitical sensitivities, both leaders emphasized that Pakistan-Turkey ties remain anchored in historical friendship, shared values, and strategic convergence on regional and international issues.
The high-level talks also underscored commitments to bolster joint efforts in education, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism initiatives.
The meeting was attended by senior Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, reflecting the strategic weight of the engagement.
Erdogan emphasized the mutual interest of both nations in deepening solidarity, particularly in areas tied to national security and technological collaboration.
The two sides held a delegation-level dialogue, where Prime Minister Sharif highlighted investment opportunities in renewable energy, information technology, defence production, infrastructure, and agriculture. He also advocated for joint ventures to accelerate economic integration and industrial cooperation.
Both leaders conducted a comprehensive review of the bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their resolve to elevate their strategic partnership.
A key outcome of the discussions was the reaffirmation of their shared commitment to achieving the previously agreed target of $5 billion in annual bilateral trade.
In a post on X, Sharif described the meeting as a step toward consolidating the the relationship between the two countries. He also thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s diplomatic support following recent tensions between India and Pakistan, which flared after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
“Had the honor of meeting my dear brother President Reccep Tayipp Erdogan in Istanbul this evening. Thanked him for his resolute support to Pakistan in the recent Pakistan India standoff which resulted in Pakistan's overwhelming victory Alhamdolillah!Conveyed the sentiments of gratitude from the people of Pakistan to their Turkish brothers and sisters,” Sharif wrote on X.
"We also reviewed the ongoing progress of our multifaceted bilateral engagements particularly in trade and investment and reaffirmed our resolve to continue working closely to further strengthen these unshakable bonds of brotherhood and cooperation," he added.
Earlier this month, Erdogan had publicly expressed solidarity with Pakistan in the aftermath of retaliatory Indian air strikes in Kashmir.
While Ankara also maintains relations with New Delhi, Erdogan’s comments drew criticism in India, where Turkish goods were reportedly boycotted by online retailers and some local businesses.
Despite geopolitical sensitivities, both leaders emphasized that Pakistan-Turkey ties remain anchored in historical friendship, shared values, and strategic convergence on regional and international issues.
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