- Turkish president receives CDF Munir at Ankara airport.
- CDF Munir, Turkish president discuss Mideast situation.
- CDF Munir meets Turkish armed forces chief in Ankara.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss regional security and matters of mutual interest, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.
CDF Munir is currently on a high-level official visit to Turkiye to enhance the deep-rooted strategic and defence ties between the two brotherly nations, the military’s media wing said in a statement.
Upon his arrival in Turkiye, Field Marshal Munir was extended a warm reception reflecting the historic and brotherly relations between the two nations, read the statement.
“During the visit, the field marshal held a series of high-level engagements with the Turkish political and military leadership,” the ISPR said.
Field Marshal Munir called on President Erdogan and Minister of National Defence, Yasar Guler, to discuss matters of mutual interest and regional security, it added.
According to the ISPR, the high-level deliberations underscored the shared vision of both nations to foster a more robust strategic partnership in an evolving geopolitical environment.
At the Turkish General Staff (TGS) headquarters, the army chief was welcomed with a guard of honour, after which he held a detailed meeting with Chief of the Turkish General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.
The two leaders discussed regional security dynamics and professional matters of mutual concern.
General Bayraktaroglu bestowed the Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal upon CDF Munir in recognition of his meritorious services and commitment to bolstering bilateral military cooperation.
The field marshal also visited the Turkish Land Forces (TLF) headquarters, where he was received by Turkish Land Forces Commander General Metin Tokel.
During his visit to Anıtkabir, the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, CDF Munir laid a floral wreath and paid respects to the founder of modern Turkiye, acknowledging his visionary leadership and the deep-rooted historical bonds between the two nations.
The visit signifies the resolve of both nations to further strengthen their multifaceted defence relationship and continue their joint efforts for regional peace and stability.
Islamabad and Ankara share longstanding brotherly relations, underpinned by strong strategic, political, defence and economic cooperation.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Erdogan in Istanbul, where the two leaders reaffirmed longstanding brotherly ties between the two nations.
They also pledged to expand economic cooperation, with a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion.
Ankara is also building corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy under the decades-long defence ties between the two nations.
Turkiye has also upgraded numerous F-16 fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force, and also shares its drone technology with Islamabad.
In January, Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj said that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye had prepared a draft defence agreement after nearly a year of talks.
In an interview with Reuters on January 15, the minister said that the potential deal between the three regional powers was separate from a bilateral Saudi-Pakistani accord announced last year.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan later said that talks have been held on a possible defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but no agreement has been signed.
Responding at a press conference in Istanbul to a question about whether there might be such an alliance, Fidan pointed to what he said was a need for broader regional cooperation and trust, and added that regional issues could be resolved if relevant countries would “be sure of each other”.
