ISLAMABAD: A Turkish naval ship, TCG Büyükada, has arrived in Pakistan on a visit to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan Navy said on Sunday.
Pakistan and Türkiye share close diplomatic, economic and defense ties. Turkish defense firms have helped modernize Pakistan’s Agosta 90B-class submarines and supplied military equipment, including drones, to Islamabad.
The two countries regularly hold joint military exercises, most recently the Ataturk-XIII drills, which involved combat teams from the two special forces and aimed to enhance interoperability between them.
Upon arrival at the Karachi port, the Turkish naval ship was warmly welcomed by officials from both navies, according to the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy.
“During its stay in Karachi, the crew of TCG Büyükada will engage in a series of professional interactions with Pakistan Navy personnel,” the DGPR said. “The visit aims to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen maritime cooperation between the two navies.”
The development comes at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. New Delhi has blamed the attack on Pakistan. Islamabad has denied involvement and called for a credible international probe into it.
Since the attack, both nations have traded fire over their de facto in Kashmir, while diplomats have exchanged barbs and both countries have expelled citizens and ordered their land border shut. Both Pakistani and Indian forces have conducted military drills in a show of their military might, while Pakistan has Pakistan has test-fired a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers, amid fears India may conduct limited strikes against Pakistan on the pretext of the Kashmir attack.
With Islamabad engaged in active diplomacy to project its stance over the issue, Turkish Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroglu met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and expressed Ankara’s solidarity with Pakistan, Sharif’s office said on Saturday.
“The goodwill visit of TCG Büyükada stands as a testament to the ever-strengthening maritime collaboration between Pakistan and Türkiye,” the DGPR said. “It reflects the deep-rooted mutual trust and strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations, anchored in centuries-old historical and cultural ties.”
Turkish naval ship arrives in Pakistan on visit to strengthen maritime cooperation
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Turkish naval ship arrives in Pakistan on visit to strengthen maritime cooperation
- The development comes amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over an attack in Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan
- On Saturday, Turkish Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroglu met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and expressed Ankara’s solidarity with Pakistan
Putin calls Russia’s ties with Pakistan ‘mutually beneficial’
- The Russian President mentions the ties as Pakistan’s new envoy presents his credentials in Moscow
- Pakistan and Russia have strengthened relations in recent years, expanding cooperation in key sectors
ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin has described relations with Pakistan as “mutually beneficial,” according to a social media post by his country’s embassy in Pakistan on Friday, as he met newly appointed Pakistani ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi during a credentials ceremony in Moscow.
Pakistan and Russia have steadily strengthened bilateral ties in recent years while working to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy and connectivity.
“We maintain close cooperation with Pakistan, a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the largest regional organization in terms of economic, technological, and human potential,” Putin was quoted as saying in a post on X. “Russia
Pakistan relations are genuinely mutually beneficial.”
In recent years, Pakistan and Russia have pledged to deepen economic ties, explore barter trade and energy deals, and boost people-to-people contacts. High-level visits have also taken place between officials of both countries, highlighting interest in expanding cooperation in technology, agriculture and transport.
Last December, Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Russia and Pakistan were in talks on a potential oil-sector agreement.
Earlier, in May, Pakistan and Russia agreed to establish a steel mill in Karachi, aiming to boost bilateral ties and expand industrial collaboration.
The two countries are also working on the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline, a major infrastructure project aimed at transporting imported gas from Karachi to Punjab to help meet Pakistan’s energy needs.
In 2023, Pakistan and Russia also discussed a deal for the delivery of Russian crude to Pakistan, and talks have continued on broader energy partnerships.
