ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Türkiye on Wednesday announced plans to expand bilateral trade to $5 billion and deepen cooperation in energy, defense, and strategic infrastructure, as senior ministers from both nations met in Islamabad amid growing regional instability.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler arrived in Pakistan late Tuesday for high-level discussions with political and military leaders. The visit, described by Pakistan’s foreign office as a sign of “deepening strategic ties,” included consultations on regional stability, trade expansion, and defense modernization.

At a joint news conference with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Turkish foreign minister said both sides were committed to strengthening what has long been a close bilateral partnership.

“Economy, energy, defense industry, education and culture are areas where we are extending our cooperation each day,” Fidan said. “The joint working groups under the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council — from defense, from energy, from education — are all working in a very productive manner.”

“We are aiming to increase our commercial relations to $5 billion,” he added. “In the field of energy, we are intensifying joint activities in mining and also in precious stones, as well as natural gas and the oil sector.”

Fidan highlighted a recent agreement signed in April between Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and a Pakistani state-owned firm to explore offshore oil and gas, calling it a “preliminary step toward broader structural cooperation” in the energy sector.

On defense cooperation, Fidan described joint initiatives as “a strategic step for the security of both countries,” noting that multiple projects in defense manufacturing and technology were already underway.

ECONOMIC ZONE, RAIL REVIVAL

Speaking at the joint press conference, Deputy PM Dar announced several new initiatives aimed at increasing Turkish investment in Pakistan.

“We are pursuing establishment of a Special Economic Zone dedicated for Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi,” he said, adding that Pakistan was working to revive the long-dormant Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad freight train, which was once seen as a key transnational trade route linking South Asia with Europe.

“Our delegations are meeting in coming weeks to finalize the roadmap for its revival,” he said.

Dar added that Turkish companies were being considered for major upcoming infrastructure and energy projects, including the Jinnah Medical Complex, Danish University, offshore drilling operations, and privatization of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs).

The deputy PM said the two nations had also agreed to revive the long-dormant Joint Ministerial Commission after 11 years and the Pakistani minister of commerce and the Turkish minister of defense would be co-chairing a joint session of the Commission in coming weeks.

“All this work will lay a solid foundation for the 8th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, which will be held next year in Türkiye and co-chaired by the Honourable President of Türkiye [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] and the Prime Minister of Pakistan [Shehbaz Sharif],” Dar said.

DEFENSE TIES

In a separate engagement, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler met with Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad to assess the state of bilateral defense cooperation and discuss emerging regional threats.

According to Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both sides agreed to set up joint working groups to deepen collaboration in aerospace technologies, advanced training, and new domains of warfare.

Güler praised the operational readiness of the Pakistan Air Force, particularly during its recent conflict with India, and expressed interest in expanding industry-to-industry partnerships.

He also emphasized the importance of joint ventures in disruptive technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, advanced avionics and pilot exchange programs. Both parties pledged to enhance joint air exercises and finalize plans for more intensive training cooperation.

The ISPR said the meeting reflected the “shared commitment of both the brotherly nations to enhance strategic cooperation, solidify defense ties and promote lasting institutional linkages between the Armed Forces of Pakistan and Türkiye.”

ISLAMABAD: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday urged Pakistan and India to pursue “meaningful and efficient dialogue” to avoid future conflict, warning that an air war between the neighbors earlier this year highlighted the “severe” risks of escalation between two nuclear-armed states. 

In May 2025, the most intense India–Pakistan military confrontation in decades erupted following an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people. New Delhi, without providing evidence, said Islamabad was behind the assault, which denies the charge.

India responded on May 7 by launching a series of airstrikes targeting what it called suspected militant infrastructure in Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated with its own drone, artillery, and missile strikes. After four days of hostilities, a US-mediated ceasefire was agreed on May 10, halting the confrontation amid global alarm over the risk of escalation.

“In April-May, there has been tension experienced between Pakistan and India, which we closely followed, and all the international society has seen the wisdom-oriented and calm attitude of Pakistan,” Fidan said during a press conference in Islamabad.

“This tension has been an important indicator that when two nuclear powers come face to face that this is going to have very severe results,” he added. 

“We have actually seen this ceasefire as an important decision, and in order to eliminate similar tensions, we believe that there has to be meaningful and efficient dialogue between the parties. As Turkiye, we’re always ready to support this so that there will be peace and there will not be any clashes.”

Fidan, along with the Turkish defense minister, is visiting Pakistan as part of efforts to deepen bilateral ties and discuss regional security challenges, including the ongoing war in Gaza and rising tensions in the Middle East after Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and other targets last month.

“Unfortunately, the attacks have actually shaken the trust first toward the international regime on the prevention of nuclear expansions, and we have actually conveyed our messages to the parties [US, Iran] for the restart of the nuclear negotiations,” Fidan said.

“We’re in constant contact with Pakistan, and both countries are contacting both parties of the conflict. Turkiye believes that there has to be peaceful resolutions through negotiations, and we will continue to have a constructive contribution to this.”

Commenting on the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023, Fidan said Turkiye condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks and supported an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

“Israel attacks are, and aggressions are, not just a risk for our region but for the whole world. At this current status quo, we do hope that the ceasefire will be permanent,” he said.

He added that the Israeli strikes on Iran had diverted international attention from what he described as the “massacre in Gaza and the genocide in Gaza.”

“Today, we [Turkiye and Pakistan] also discussed about the joint steps that we can take for our Palestinian brothers,” Fidan said.

“Within this plan, the Israel attacks and aggression should end, and we hope that peace will be brought to Gaza and calm will be established. We will continue to support the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause.”