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Islamabad: Turkiye has expressed an earnest desire to bolster bilateral defense relations with Pakistan through deeper industry-to-industry collaboration. The desire was expressed by Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Gler, who, along with a high-level delegation, held a meeting with Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu during a visit to Air Headquarters, Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting encompassed discussions on evolving regional security dynamics, the progress of ongoing defense cooperation, and prospects for future collaboration in emerging domains of warfare. The meeting agreed on the establishment of dedicated joint working groups to streamline and accelerate progress across various sectors of mutual interest.
They also agreed on finalizing the modalities for enhanced training collaboration and reaffirmed their strong commitment to expand the scale and scope of joint bilateral and multilateral air exercises. The Chief of the Air Staff highlighted the enduring brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, and reaffirmed PAF’s steadfast resolve to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the domains of advanced training and aerospace technologies.
The Turkish Defence Minister lauded Pakistan Air Force’s exceptional performance, operational preparedness, and resolute defense of national sovereignty under the leadership of the Air Chief during the recent conflict with India. Highlighting the longstanding fraternal ties between Turkiye and Pakistan, Yasar Gler emphasized exploring joint ventures in niche disruptive technologies, advanced avionics, and unmanned aerial systems.
The Turkish Defence Minister also expressed his appreciation of PAF’s continued support in the pilot exchange program, terming it vital for fostering professional growth and operational understanding between the two Air Forces. The visit of the Turkish Minister of Defence to Air Headquarters, Islamabad reflects the shared commitment of both countries to enhance strategic cooperation, solidify defense ties, and promote lasting institutional linkages between the Armed Forces of Pakistan and Turkiye.