Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to elevate their bilateral trade volume to $5 billion, as discussed in delegation-level talks held in Islamabad.The Pakistani delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, while the Turkish delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The talks focused on advancing bilateral cooperation and addressing regional and international issues of mutual interest, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
In a joint news conference following the talks, Ishaq Dar announced plans to hold the next session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council soon. He highlighted the longstanding defense collaboration between the two nations, noting various ongoing joint ventures and mutual support in defending territorial sovereignty and combating terrorism.
Dar expressed gratitude to Turkiye for its unwavering support to the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and affirmed Pakistan’s support for the legitimate struggle of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
He emphasized the deep historical ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, describing them as “two countries but one nation,” with a heart-to-heart relationship that predates Pakistan’s establishment.
He lauded the enduring friendship and brotherhood between the two nations, rooted in history, and reiterated Turkiye’s support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
Fidan termed his meeting with Ishaq Dar as productive, noting a principled decision to strengthen relations not only in trade but also in defense, investment, banking, science, and technology.