Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to visit Pakistan this week as part of his four-day tour of three Asian countries, which also includes Malaysia and Indonesia.
President Erdogan’s tour, beginning today, will first take him to Malaysia, followed by Indonesia, before he arrives in Islamabad last, as reported by Daily Sabah on Monday.
During his visit, President Erdogan will discuss various aspects of bilateral relations, with a key focus on enhancing cooperation in multiple sectors.
The tour was also confirmed through a post on the president’s social media account and follows a brief meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and his Turkish counterpart at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye.
During this meeting, the two leaders exchanged cordial remarks and discussed bilateral ties and matters of mutual interest.
President Erdogan’s visit comes amid growing cooperation between Ankara and Islamabad, particularly in the defense sector. Recently, Pakistan signed a deal to procure Turkish vessels for the Pakistan Navy.
In January, the two nations also conducted a joint naval exercise, “Turgutreis-XI,” in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise was strategically planned to enhance interoperability between the two navies, involving various maritime operations and tactical maneuvers.
Throughout the drills, both navies reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in addressing emerging maritime challenges and ensuring regional maritime security.
Earlier, in September 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met President Erdogan on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York, where the Turkish leader praised Pakistan’s economic progress and expressed optimism about its continued growth under PM Shehbaz’s leadership.
The Turkish president’s visit also holds diplomatic significance, as several world leaders have visited Pakistan in recent months. The last foreign leader to visit Islamabad was Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in November 2024.
