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Pakistani–Turkish relations are foreign relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Turkey. “One Nation – Two States” is the phrase that best describes the relations between Turkey and Pakistan.[1] The people of both countries have brotherly relations which date back centuries.[2] These relations have been traditionally strong. Relations between Pakistan and Turkey are exemplary.[3]
Both nations maintain extensive cultural, commercial, strategic and military cooperation.[4] Both countries have a deep bond of brotherhood.[5] Moreover, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called Pakistan his second home.[6] Both Turkey and Pakistan are Muslim-majority states and share extensive cultural and geopolitical links. The former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, who spent part of his childhood in Turkey, expressed a desire to develop Pakistan on the Turkish model of modernism and secularism.[4][7] In spite of the geographical distance and the clear economic and social differences between two countries, Turks and Pakistanis have had a cordial relation, on a state to state level. Pakistanis have always been called ‘brothers’ in Turkey.[8] PakTurk International Schools and Colleges is a chain of Turkish schools and institutes found in numerous cities of Pakistan.
Pakistan has an embassy in Ankara, a Consulate-General in Istanbul and a honorary consulate in Izmir whereas, Turkey has an embassy in Islamabad, a Consulate-General in Karachi and honorary consulates in Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot and Faisalabad.
During her visit to Turkey in August 2011, Hina Rabbani Khar, the foreign minister of Pakistan, called Turkey an "inspiring example" for the world, when commenting on its economic progress and democracy.[9]
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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.[10] 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 and secularism.[4] Similar ideas were expressed by the former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, who grew up in Turkey and had received extensive military training there.[4][7][11] 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. Erdoğan said that Pakistan had always occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of the Turkish government and people.
Turkey and Pakistan are founding members of the Economic Cooperation Organization and part of the Developing 8 Countries (D-8) organization. Both nations have worked to negotiate a preferential trading agreement, aiming to considerably increase trade and investments, especially in transport, telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism and other industries.[12] Both governments have sought to increase the volume of bilateral trade from $690 million to more than $1 billion by 2010.[11][13] Pakistani exports include rice, sesame seeds, leather, textiles, fabrics, sports goods, and medical equipment. Turkey's exports to Pakistan include wheat, chickpeas, lentils, diesel, chemicals, transport vehicles, machinery and energy products.[14] Turkish private corporations have also invested significantly in industrial and construction projects developing highways, pipelines and canals.[10]
A container train service was launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani between Islamabad and Istanbul on 14 August 2009. The first train carried 20 containers with a capacity of around 750 t (738 long tons; 827 short tons) [15] and will travel 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from Islamabad, through Balochistan and Tehran, Iran and on to Istanbul in two weeks' time.[16] According to the Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, after the trial of the container train service, a passenger train will be launched.[17] There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to Europe and Central Asia, and carry passengers.[18][19]
Pakistan and Turkey have maintained long-standing military ties, with Turkey supplying arms, military equipment and training Pakistani officers.[11] 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 U.S.-led Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) aimed to bolster military and strategic cooperation and counter the spread of communism and Soviet influence in the region.[20] Turkey has openly supported Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir conflict and maintained political and military support during its wars with India.[20][21] Pakistan has reciprocated by expressing support for Turkey's policy on Northern Cyprus.[13][22] Both nations have sought to expand cooperation to fight terrorism.[11][13] Both countries are also members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
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.”[23]
An 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 tiers 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.”[24]
At the 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 neighbouring 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.”[24]
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.”[25]
Chairman of the Pakistani Parliament’s Foreign Relations Commission Asfandyar Wali Khan conveyed his thanks and stated,
Mercan concluded,
Recently, Turkish Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan on his visit to the flood affected areas of Pakistan has stated,
Turkish Prime Minister has further stated that,
Both Nation were part of Cold War alliance called the Central Treaty Organization. Military-to-military contacts remain resolute, uncompromising and stalwart as ever, as the two countries now vigorously aiming and exploring the co-production of weapons ranging from armored vehicles to new-generation corvettes. Significantly, both sides also wish to boost defense exports to Islamic countries as an alternative to "expensive" Western weapons.[26]
In the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, Turkey stepped up its efforts to help the people of the affected areas. Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, paid an official visit to Pakistan in order to share the grief and agony of the brotherly people of Pakistan.[27] Turkey announced a package of $150 million for the quake-hit people.[28] The Turkish aid organization Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent) also constructed a mosque in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir region. The mosque is being built in the Ottoman Style in Bagh province, it would have a capacity to accommodate 300 people, besides a guesthouse, a lodging facility and a teaching area for 250 students practicing the holy book of Islam, the Koran.[29]
In response to the 2010 Pakistan floods, Turkey issued a rallying cry for flood-hit Pakistan. Apart, from the state and its organizations, a number of Turkish businessmen also initiated aid campaigns for Pakistan.[30] Turkey also sent a train carrying humanitarian aid for the flood stricken Pakistan. The train is loaded with humanitarian aid collected by Turkey' s Sabah (daily newspaper)-ATV (TV channel) Group and Turkish Red Crescent. The aid consists of 300 prefabricated houses, 2,000 food parcels, 930 sacks of flour, hygienic materials, dried food, diapers and potable water.[31] The Turkish government also announced building of a Turkish town in the flood stricken Pakistan.[32] Turkey has donated a total of $11 million to Pakistan.[33] Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan also visited parts of flood stricken Pakistan, Erdoğan traveled from Islamabad to Karachi with six ministers, flying by helicopter to witness aid efforts, including the completion of a village of 2,000 prefabricated houses built by the Turkish Red Crescent near Multan, in the eastern province of Punjab.[34] After the flood when the Turkish Prime Minister could not come to Pakistan due to his engagements he sent his wife to look after the flood victims and after success in referendum he immediately came to Pakistan and personally gave the keys of the houses constructed by Turkish welfare organization to the flood affectees.[35]
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, during his visit to Pakistan has said,
The head of the Turkish Red Crescent, Tekin Kucukali has told a local newspaper,
The Chief Minister of the Punjab Province in Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif has thanked Turkey by stating,
The Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Babur Hizlan thanked the Chief Minister on holding a ceremony on the 87th independence day of Turkish Republic,
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