Pakistan pledged to strengthen cooperation with Turkiye in politics, defence, energy, economy, and investment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. The announcement came during his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the International Forum in Ashgabat. Both leaders highlighted the historic fraternal ties and shared goals of peace and prosperity.
Shehbaz welcomed frequent leadership-level engagements this year and praised the 16th session of the Pak-Turkiye Joint Ministerial Commission. The premier identified energy, petroleum, and minerals as priority sectors and encouraged timely implementation of recent MOUs and agreements. Turkey’s expertise in privatizing distribution companies will also benefit Pakistan.
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The leaders discussed regional connectivity, including the revival of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul rail network. They exchanged views on global and regional developments, emphasizing cooperation on security and economic issues. Shehbaz thanked Turkey for facilitating talks with the Afghan Taliban, while stressing that Pakistan’s security concerns must be addressed for lasting peace.
Both sides also reaffirmed commitment to investment and defence cooperation. Ministerial-level exchanges were planned soon to ensure smooth coordination on key sectors. Erdogan expressed his desire to strengthen ties further and appreciated Shehbaz’s remarks on Pakistan-Turkiye relations.
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Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s support for peaceful resolutions in global conflicts. He urged international pressure on the Afghan Taliban to curb terrorist groups. The premier also hoped ongoing Middle East peace efforts would protect Palestinians, allow humanitarian aid, and support Gaza’s reconstruction.