Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif of Pakistan met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. President Erdoğan then held a joint press conference, extending a warm welcome to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif by saying, “Welcome to Türkiye.”
President Erdoğan stated, “Our mutual engagements are a reflection of our strong friendship. Pakistan is determined to eradicate terrorism. Our two countries are aligned on many global issues. We wish to launch joint projects in the defence sector. We fully support Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate all forms of terrorism. Both Türkiye and Pakistan support the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. Pakistan has strongly condemned the atrocities in Gaza and will continue to stand with us in the fight against terrorism."
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed his gratitude to President Erdoğan for the warm welcome and said he was pleased to meet with the Turkish President. He went on to say, “Under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye has made remarkable progress. He is a visionary leader. When Pakistan was struck by devastating floods in 2022, President Erdoğan sent aid and paid a historic visit. We are grateful for Türkiye’s cooperation in counter-terrorism. The two countries have agreed to collaborate in IT, mining, and other sectors. Pakistan vehemently condemns the atrocities in Gaza and calls for a solution to the Palestinian issue in line with UN resolutions. Palestinian Muslims are being brutally massacred. An immediate ceasefire must be implemented in Gaza, an independent Palestinian state must be established, and collective efforts are needed to rid the world of terrorism. The international community must develop a strategy to achieve peace by tackling terrorism. We are also thankful for Türkiye’s unwavering support for the Kashmir issue. We condemn the killing of over 50,000 unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and urgently call for a ceasefire.”
A joint press statement was also issued following the meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and President Erdoğan. The statement noted that both leaders expressed satisfaction with the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Türkiye, and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation across various fields. Prime Minister Sharif underscored the importance of boosting economic cooperation through mutual investments. The two leaders reviewed progress under the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council decisions. Regional and global issues were also discussed during the meeting. Both leaders voiced deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid to the affected population. President Erdoğan commended Pakistan for its continued support and humanitarian assistance to Palestine. Türkiye and Pakistan reaffirmed their determination to strengthen their strategic partnership.