Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler are set to visit Islamabad on July 9 for a high-level visit, signaling reinvigorated ties between Ankara and Islamabad.
During meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, Fidan is expected to reaffirm Turkey’s “exceptional” political relations with Pakistan. He will highlight expanded collaboration across trade, defence, and the military-industrial sector.
The visit follows Turkey’s vocal support for Pakistan in the wake of the May military tensions with India—a stance that drew sharp criticism and boycotts from India but strengthened Ankara–Islamabad solidarity.
Defence cooperation is a core focus. Fidan will advocate for deeper collaboration in joint military production, technology transfer, and defence infrastructure, highlighting the need to promote regional peace and security through shared capabilities.
This visit extends ongoing strategic dialogue established via the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which has overseen major agreements between the two nations.
Economic ties are also in focus: bilateral trade reached $1.4 billion, and both countries aim to elevate that to $5 billion. Discussions around expanding the Turkey–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are expected to be pivotal during the visit.
Overall, this visit signals that immigration and diplomacy are converging—easier travel, robust trade, and greater military-industrial cooperation reflect a maturing partnership that transcends transactional ties. With ID movement sheets and visa agreements on the table, the stage is set for expanded connectivity between the two nations.
