Turkish foreign and defence ministers to visit Pakistan for talks on defence, regional ties

Türkiye’s foreign and defence ministers will travel to Pakistan on Wednesday to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks on bilateral relations and defence cooperation, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

The visit comes amid Türkiye’s efforts to deepen strategic ties with Pakistan following Ankara’s vocal support during Islamabad’s military tensions with India in May. The diplomatic stance drew criticism from New Delhi, which responded by cancelling services from a Turkish aviation firm and boycotting Turkish products.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will convey Türkiye’s intent to broaden cooperation across multiple sectors, including defence, and to support initiatives aimed at regional peace, the source told Reuters on Tuesday.

“The two countries need to strengthen their cooperation in the defence industry,” the source added.

Fidan will be accompanied by Türkiye’s Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, with meetings expected to cover bilateral relations, regional dynamics and joint defence initiatives. The trip signals Ankara’s continued emphasis on Pakistan as a key partner in South Asia.

While maintaining cordial ties with India, Türkiye’s alignment with Pakistan has strained its relations with New Delhi. In response to Ankara’s remarks during the May conflict, Indian retailers launched informal boycotts of Turkish goods, and aviation firm Celebi’s ground-handling services were cancelled by Indian authorities citing “national security” concerns.

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