Istanbul, July 4,2026: Pakistan and Türkiye on Saturday reaffirmed their commitment to stand by each other “through thick and thin” and pledged to deepen economic cooperation by raising bilateral trade to $5 billion.
The resolve was expressed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a joint press briefing in Istanbul after talks on bilateral relations and regional developments.
President Erdoğan welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz and his delegation, saying the discussions covered bilateral ties as well as regional and global affairs. Stressing the close bond between the two countries, he said Türkiye and Pakistan had always stood by each other and would continue to do so.
The Turkish president also highlighted the recently signed Islamabad memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, describing it as important for global peace, and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace, prosperity and economic development.
According to President Erdoğan, the talks also focused on expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation. He said Ankara wanted to deepen collaboration with Pakistan in energy, transport, critical minerals, information technology and defence, while both sides remained committed to the $5 billion trade target.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked President Erdoğan for the warm welcome and hospitality, saying Pakistan and Türkiye shared a deep, historic and enduring bond. He noted that Türkiye had consistently stood by Pakistan in times of war and natural disasters and said the relationship between the two countries was rooted in shared history and mutual trust.
The prime minister said his meetings with Turkish business leaders at the Pakistan-Türkiye Business Forum had reinforced the commitment of both countries to expand bilateral trade and investment. He also underlined the importance of benefiting from Turkish expertise in areas such as the privatisation of power distribution companies and improving Pakistan’s transmission system.
Addressing the Pakistan-Türkiye B2B Conference earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz described Türkiye as Pakistan’s “strong and sincere ally” and said the relationship between the two nations was historic. He recalled that the foundations of this bond were laid during the Khilafat Movement, when the Muslims of the subcontinent, including the Ali Brothers, supported Türkiye’s struggle.
He also referred to Pakistan’s diplomatic role during the recent US-Iran conflict, saying the mission had been difficult but that a ceasefire had now been achieved and the opportunity for peace must be fully utilised.
The prime minister further recalled Pakistan’s conflict with India in May last year and acknowledged the support extended by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries during that period.
During the joint media interaction, President Erdoğan also warned that peace efforts in the Middle East could not succeed without regional support and said Israel must not be allowed to “dynamite” the US-Iran peace deal.
“No solution that does not draw strength from the will and contributions of regional countries can be lasting,” he said, adding that Türkiye was closely following what he described as Israeli attempts to undermine the agreement.
“The current war-addicted Israeli government must not be allowed to drown our geography once again in the smell of gunpowder and blood,” the Turkish president said.
