Turkey and Pakistan pledge $5 billion trade boost in Ankara talks

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the Vahdettin Köşkü in Istanbul. The two leaders held bilateral and delegation meetings followed by a joint press conference. They discussed regional stability, voiced concern over Israel’s actions in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to diplomatic solutions. Erdoğan said, “Bölgemizi Barut ve Kan Kokusuna Boğmalarına Fırsat Vermeyeceğiz.”

The leaders confirmed a goal of raising bilateral trade to $5 billion, citing plans for a special economic zone in Karachi and cooperation in defence, energy, transport, critical minerals and information technology. Sharif thanked Turkey for supporting Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach between the United States and Iran and reiterated mutual backing on the Kashmir and Northern Cyprus issues.