Pakistan–Turkey relations

On Nov 16, 2022, Pakistan International Airlines commenced flight to Istanbul on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Turkey.[7]

Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Pakistan were established in 1947, soon after Pakistan gained independence as the then largest Muslim country on world map.

Turkey established diplomatic relations soon after the independence of Pakistan in 1947 and bilateral relations became increasingly close owing to cultural, religious and geopolitical links between the two countries.[8] Turkey was among a few countries that quickly recognized Pakistan after its creation and supported its successful bid to become a member of the United Nations.[9] Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah expressed admiration for Turkey's founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and also a desire to develop Pakistan on the Turkish model of modernism. [10] Similar ideas were expressed by the former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, who grew up in Turkey and had received extensive military training there.[10][11][12] Jinnah is honoured as a great leader in Turkey, and a major road of the Turkish capital Ankara, the Cinnah Caddesi is named after him, while roads in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Larkana are named after Atatürk. On 26 October 2009, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was awarded the Nishan-e-Pakistan and was the fourth world leader who spoke to the Pakistani parliament.

Shashlik, a common Eurasian dish.

Regions of both modern-day Turkey and Pakistan in the domain of the Persian Empire.

The regions comprising both Pakistan and Turkey have been mutually influenced by contiguous Iranic, Hellenistic, Arab and Turco-Mongol cultures at various points in history. By the fifth century BCE, Persian Empires spread from Anatolia to the Indus River, introducing Persianate cultural and political traditions to these regions.[20][21]

Common Hellenistic influence following the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Modern-day Turkey was home to many ancient European civilizations, including that of the Ionian Greeks. The country has many traces of cultural and historical influences from the ancient Greeks, including many Greek and Hellenistic archeological sites found in the region.[22][23] Pakistan was also influenced by Greek culture and civilization in the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquest of the Indus Valley, which later led to the development of the Indo-Greek Kingdoms and Greco-Buddhism. Gandhara, a region in western Pakistan, was a major thoroughfare of Hellenistic, Iranic and Indo-Aryan contact.[24]

Turkey became a Turkic-speaking country as a result of Seljuq conquest and Turkification of the region. Though Pakistan is not a Turkic-speaking country, its major languages, particularly Urdu, also known as Lashkari,[25] are strongly influenced by the Turkic language of the Mughals before it became the empire's official language. As a result, it has borrowed many loanwords from Chagatai. The etymology of the word "Urdu" traces itself back to Mughal rule,[26] believed to be coined by the poet Mashafi.[27]

Moreover, the common cultural influences on Pakistan and Turkey span several centuries, as many Turkic and Iranic peoples ruled vast areas of Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East.

The designs of clothing of the two countries also have common origins in Central Asia. Food is also similar to some extent such as Kebab, Pilaf and Halva although the spice content in Pakistan is different due to South Asian influence.

Both the majority of Turkey's and Pakistan's population practice the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, which was the interpretation of Islam implemented by the Ottoman Empire and Mughal Empire respectively. Robust traditions of moderate Sufism exist and the religious ministers of both nations frequently contact each other.[28]

Ottoman military expeditions to Aceh and Brunei during the 1500s often involved Sindhi forces.[29]

Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Turkey[30] followed by a visit of Pakistan by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in February 2020.[31] Pakistanis enjoy the gracious attitude of ordinary Turks towards Pakistanis and are often termed as Kardeş(brother). Turkish television shows have huge popularity in Pakistan with recently the Turkish show Ertugrul Ghazi, Payitaht Abdülhamid being dubbed by Pakistan Television Corporation in the Urdu language, and has taken the country by storm.[32] Erdoğan became one of the few world leaders to be given an opportunity to make give a speech in the Pakistani parliament and he is quoted saying "I pray that Allah (God) makes the solidarity between us strong and permanent" and "As in the past, we will continue to stand by Pakistan in the future".[33] Both the countries announced dual citizenship under the citizenship initiative, in which the citizens of Pakistan and Turkey would be able to attain joint citizenship and dual passports.[34] Pakistani and Turkish Armed Forces also hold many joint training sessions[35] and Turkey imports arms from Pakistan.

On July 27, 2021, the first trilateral meeting of the Chairman of the National Assembly (Milli Majlis) of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, the Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Mustafa Shentop, and the Chairman of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Asad Geysar, took place.[36]

During the meeting, the text of Baku Declaration was discussed and approved. The Declaration emphasizes the importance of historical and cultural ties, strengthening parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, establishment of peace, stability and development in these regions and et cetera.[37]

It was also decided to hold the second trilateral meeting of the chairmen in Islamabad, Pakistan in 2022.[38]

Turkey launched a trilateral summit process between the two states and Afghanistan in February 2007, following a visit by then Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül to Islamabad, as the backbone of its diversified foreign policy in Southeast Asia and Pakistani deputy Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri confirmed that according to Gül "we are all brothers who need to support each other", in order to, "bring security and stability to the region".[40]

A 1 April 2009, meeting between Pakistani and Afghan leaders, conducted as part of the trilateral Ankara cooperation process, saw the three countries pledged to increase coordination between their political, military and intelligence ties in the fight against militancy and terrorism. Chairman of the Turkish–Pakistani Friendship Association Burhan Kayatürk has stated that "It is the first time that the military and intelligence chiefs of Afghanistan and Pakistan have attended the trilateral summit, which is a reflection of the deeper commitment to work together".[41]

At 17 April 2009, Friends of Pakistan Tokyo Donors Conference, Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydın pledged $100 million to Pakistan for infrastructure, health and education projects. Turkish Parliamentary Deputy Kayatürk has called on neighboring countries, including India, to make similar commitments as "It is in their interests to see a stable Pakistan; otherwise violence will spill over into their territory".[41]

Pakistani and Afghan parliamentary deputies came together in Ankara on 5 May 2009, as part of the trilateral Ankara cooperation process, where they met with the now Turkish President Gül and new Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to discuss a variety of issues. Head of the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission Murat Mercan stated;

"Today we need cooperation between our countries more than ever. I believe Turkey, having historical brotherhood relations with both, is in a special position to improve and deepen this cooperation. Turkey is confident that the cooperation to be established between Afghanistan and Pakistan will help a lot to solve the problems".[42]

Chairman of the Pakistani Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission Asfandyar Wali Khan conveyed his thanks and stated,

"We need Turkey’s support to build stability in the region".

Mercan concluded,

"We are finally on the verge of institutionalizing the trilateral Ankara cooperation process within the framework of parliamentary joint initiatives", with follow-up meetings due to be held in Islamabad and Kabul at four-month intervals".

Pakistan and Turkey have maintained long-standing military ties with Turkey also providing training to Pakistani air force officers in upgrading its F-16 fleet.[12] On 2 April 1954, Pakistan and Turkey signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation. Both countries, valued as important states in their regions, joined the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) aimed to bolster military and strategic cooperation and counter the spread of communism and Soviet influence in the region.[43] During 1970s, Turkey had openly supported Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir conflict and recognized Jammu and Kashmir, as part of Pakistan, with which it endeavours to 'spice up' bilateral relations, and the Turkish ambassador to Pakistan spent nearly a week in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan administered kashmir, in order to show Turkish solidarity with the Pakistanis in regards to Kashmir and maintained political and military support during its wars with India.[43][44] Pakistan has reciprocated by expressing support for Turkey's policy on Northern Cyprus.[15][45] Both nations have sought to expand cooperation to fight terrorism.[12][15] Both countries are also members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Turkey is also currently a major arms seller to Pakistan.[46] Turkey previously purchased arms from Pakistan[47] and continuous to purchase minor aerial weapons and components from Pakistan.[48][49] The Pakistan and Turkish Air Force signed a deal to purchase 52 Super Mushak trainer turbo-props from Pakistan for Turkey to help train new pilots and support recovery of the Turkish Armed Forces in the aftermath of pilot shortages after the attempted coup.[50][51][52]

In July 2018, Pakistan's navy signed a contract for the acquisition of four MILGEM-class (MILGEM project) ships from Turkey which is the largest single military export deal of Turkey worth $1.5 billion. Pakistan Navy Commander Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi and Erdogan cut the first metal plate of the first of the four MILGEM Ada class corvette during a ceremony held on 29 September 2019. Over the last decade, nearly 1,500 Pakistani military officers have received training in Turkey. The two are already collaborating on drone production, while Turkish and Pakistani troops held joint counter-terror exercises with Uzbek forces in Uzbekistan in April 2019. Both could soon join forces to develop and co-produce their own fighter jet after which they could go in together on a stealth fighter. Turkish military attaches from each branch of its armed forces have been posted in the Pakistani embassy in Ankara, and Turkey helped upgrade a batch of F-16 fighter jets for the Pakistan Air Force, manufacturing engines as well as spare parts. Both countries have come even closer militarily owing to security situation around their neighbors as well as due to instability in ties with the US recently. In November 2019, Navies of both countries participated in drills in the Mediterranean and Arabian Sea.[53][54][55][56]

In the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, Turkey stepped up its efforts to help the Pakistani people of the affected areas.[57] Turkey announced a package of $150 million for the quake-hit people.[58] The Turkish aid organization Kizilay also constructed a mosque in Pakistan's azad Kashmir region bordering Indian Jammu & Kashmir. The mosque is being built in the Ottoman Style in Pakistan's Bagh District.[59]

Pakistan supplied Turkey with aid during the 1999 earthquake[60] and during the 2011 Van earthquake.[61][62]

Kadir Topbaş Chowk in Lahore, Pakistan inaugurated by Kadir Topbaş, The Mayor of Istanbul (Turkey) on 12 March 2012

Pakistan and Turkey have many sister cities and twin towns.

• Karachi and Istanbul
• Islamabad and Ankara
• Lahore and Konya
• Sialkot and Izmir

• Foreign relations of Pakistan
• Foreign relations of Turkey
• Abdur Rehman Peshawari, Turkish soldier, journalist and diplomat born in Peshawar, British India
• Turks in Pakistan

• Turkey-Pakistan Security Relations since the 1950s