President Erdoğan's diplomatic contacts continue

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a critical meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul. The Pakistani leader was welcomed with an official ceremony at Istanbul Airport by Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler.

The meeting between Erdoğan and Sharif was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Chief İbrahim Kalın, Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Chief Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç, and Commander of the Land Forces Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

BILATERAL RELATIONS AND REGIONAL ISSUES WERE ON THE TABLE

According to a statement from the Presidential Communications Directorate, the meeting between Erdoğan and Sharif addressed regional and global developments, primarily focusing on Turkey-Pakistan bilateral relations.

TRADE TARGET SET AT 5 BILLION DOLLARS

During the meeting, President Erdoğan emphasized that they would work with determination to advance relations between the two countries. Highlighting the goal of increasing the trade volume to 5 billion dollars, Erdoğan stated that they would increase cooperation in various fields, particularly in energy, transportation, and defense.

Erdoğan pointed out the importance of increasing cooperation with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, including intelligence sharing, training, and technological support. He also expressed that the Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad railway line should be made more efficient.