ISLAMABAD – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in Islamabadtoday (February 13) aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation betweenPakistan and Turkey to new heights.
The foreign ministry said the Turkish President was visiting Pakistan onthe invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan from February 13-14.
“President Erdogan will be accompanied by a high-level delegationcomprising cabinet members and senior government officials, as well asheads and Chief Executive Officers of leading Turkish corporations,” saidthe details released by the foreign ministry.
The visit of President Erdogan, the ministry said: “Will serve tounderscore the traditional solidarity and affinity between the twocountries, and prove to be another significant milestone in the furtherdeepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategicpartnership.”
During the visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Erdogan will havetete-a-tete, after which they will co-chair the 6th Session of thePakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council in the jointcabinet format. At the conclusion of the session, a Joint Declaration willbe signed. A number of important agreements and Memorandums ofUnderstanding expected to be concluded. The two leaders will have a jointpress stakeout.
“President Erdogan will separately meet with President Dr Arif Alvi.President Erodgan will also address a joint session of parliament ofPakistan. Together with Prime Minister Imran Khan, he will address thePakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum which brings together leadinginvestors and business-people from both sides,” the foreign ministrystatement said.
The High Level Strategic Cooperation Council is the highest leveldecision-making forum, providing strategic direction to furtherstrengthening of relations between the two countries. There are seven jointworking groups working under the hlscc, focused on political coordination;trade and investment; energy; banking and finance; transport andcommunications; culture and tourism; and education. So far, 5 sessions ofthe HLSCC have been held, alternately in Islamabad and Ankara, thestatement said.
Erdogan and a delegation of Turkish businessmen and top investors areexpected to hold comprehensive trade talks with their Pakistanicounterparts, and various important agreements could be finalized.Exploring new opportunities in trade and further synchronising militaryrelations are primary purposes behind the visit.
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Pakistan can expect more Turkish investment. Significantly, Prime MinisterImran Khan recently said he intends to involve Turkey in projects relatedto the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Ankara’s inclusion in themegaproject could open new possibilities.
A strategic economic framework and free trade agreement have also beenunder consideration and, if finalized, could help increase trade volume.
During this visit, officials will consider and perhaps sign an agreement togrant dual citizenship to Turks and Pakistanis. Acknowledging bothcountries’ longstanding ties, Pakistan plans to commemorate this year thecentenary of the Khilafat (caliphate) movement of the 1920s. Started on theIndian subcontinent in support of the Ottoman Empire, this part of historybinds the Turkish and Pakistani nations.
Various new military training programmes are being planned. Some lawenforcement equipment is to be upgraded, and according to a statement byPakistan’s Ministry of Interior, it “welcomed the initiative of introducinga patrolling force in collaboration with ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory)Police.”
Having an annual military and air force training exchange programme since2000, Turkey also helps maintain Pakistan’s fleet of F-16 aircraft.Bilateral defence and security cooperation was upgraded with some landmarkdefence deals in 2018, and these days Turkey is Pakistan’s second-biggestarms supplier after China. In the past decade, almost 1,500 Pakistanimilitary officers have been trained in Turkey.
