ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss bilateral ties and the regional situation, Sharif’s office said on Tuesday.
Pakistan and Turkiye enjoy close cultural, historical and military relations which they are now expanding into the realms of trade, economy and investment as both countries seek to develop their economies.
“During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold extensive discussions with President Erdogan on bilateral relations as well as exchange views on recent developments in the region and beyond,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
“The upcoming meeting represents a continuation of robust dialogue and underscores the shared commitment to further elevate the multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye.”
As long-standing allies and strategic partners, Pakistan and Turkiye maintain a tradition of regular exchanges and have institutionalized leadership-level mechanisms such as the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).
The 7th session of the HLSCC was held in Islamabad on Feb 12-13 this year, and co-chair by Sharif and Erdogan.
“The upcoming meeting represents a continuation of this strong dialogue and highlights the shared commitment to further elevate the multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
Pakistan and Turkiye have a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) since August 2022, granting tariff concessions on certain goods, and are working to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion.
While trade has increased in recent years, it is not yet a major trading partner for either country. A Free Trade Agreement is also under consideration.
In 2023, Pakistan’s exports to Turkiye were $352.1 million, and imports stood at $250.8 million. Turkiye’s exports to Pakistan in 2024 included items like lead, meat, and works of art while Pakistan’s exports to Turkiye included explosives, zinc, meat, and fur skins.
Pakistani PM leaves for Turkiye for meeting with Erdogan
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Pakistani PM leaves for Turkiye for meeting with Erdogan
- Pakistan and Turkiye are longtime allies with close cultural, historical and military relations
- They are now seeking to expand investment ties as both countries work to grow their economies
Pakistan says responding to Afghan ‘offensive operations’ after border fire as tensions escalate
- Afghan Taliban spokesperson says “large-scale offensive operations” launched against Pakistani military bases
- Pakistan says Afghan forces opened “unprovoked” fire across multiple sectors along shared border
ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said on Thursday they had launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military bases and installations, prompting Pakistan to say its forces were responding to what it described as unprovoked fire along the shared border.
The escalation follows Islamabad’s weekend airstrikes targeting what it said were Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh militant camps inside Afghanistan in response to a wave of recent bombings and attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad said the strikes killed over 100 militants, while Kabul said dozens of civilians were killed and condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.
In a post on social media platform X, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan had launched “large-scale offensive operations” in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said Afghan forces had initiated hostilities along multiple points of the frontier.
“Afghan Taliban regime unprovoked action along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border given an immediate, and effective response,” the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said Pakistani forces were targeting Taliban positions in the Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors, claiming heavy Afghan casualties and the destruction of multiple posts and equipment. It added that Pakistan would take all necessary measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and the security of its citizens.
Separately, security officials said Pakistani forces had carried out counterattacks in several border sectors.
“Pakistan’s security forces are giving a befitting reply to the unprovoked Afghan aggression with full force,” a security official said, declining to be named.
“The Pakistani security forces’ counter-attack destroyed Taliban’s hideouts and the Khawarij fled,” they added, referring to TTP militants.
The claims from both sides could not be independently verified.
Cross-border violence has intensified in recent weeks, with Pakistan blaming a surge in suicide bombings and militant attacks on militants it says are based in Afghanistan. Kabul denies providing safe havens to anti-Pakistan militant groups.
The clashes mark the third major escalation between the neighbors in less than a year. Similar Pakistani strikes last year triggered weeklong clashes before Qatar, Türkiye and other regional actors mediated a ceasefire in October.
The 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) frontier, a key trade and transit corridor linking Pakistan to landlocked Afghanistan and onward to Central Asia, has faced repeated closures amid tensions, disrupting commerce and humanitarian movement. Trade between the two nations has remained closed since October 2025.
