Eternal brotherhood

A friend in need is a friend indeed. This has been the succinct way of how we can define Turkiye-Pakistan relations throughout history. Through storms and sunshine, Turkiye and Pakistan have been unwavering pillars for each other, stretching from the Khilafat Movement to shared founding principles to addressing global and regional issues across Greater Eurasia and to mutual assistance of disaster response.

As I took on my role as the new ambassador to Pakistan four months ago, I have spared no effort reaching out to key stakeholders and setting the stage for what I term our ‘eternal brotherhood’ – a concept that transcends mere diplomacy. From the first day, I feel at my second home. I call upon all Pakistanis to consider me as their brother. With that, my ultimate goal is, by building upon my predecessors’ splendid work, to expand our cooperation for the betterment of our people.

The Turkish-Pakistani partnership is a tale woven with threads of shared beliefs, challenges embraced and actions taken jointly. Over the decades, this bond has only grown stronger, shaped by mutual respect. Communication is from heart to heart. The love for Turkish dramas, or the admiration for Pakistani hospitality among Turkish people, exemplifies a timeless bond. These cultural exchanges, including literature, music, and art, must continue to be promoted.

Now, I would like to turn a new chapter in this long-lasting brotherhood. My vision is simple yet ambitious: to deepen our connection -through people, economy, defence, and culture. We will work together with all public and private institutions to make it another success story and bring people and institutions much closer. This will also help enable further experience sharing in every field.

Education cooperation is the cornerstone of any lasting partnership. The presence of Turkish educational institutions like the Maarif Foundation and Yunus Emre Cultural Center throughout Pakistan, and the increasing number of Pakistani students in Turkiye, are serving the best interests of two brotherly peoples. We should aim at more student/academician exchanges, scholarships, and research projects to cultivate future leaders who understand and appreciate our shared heritage.

Promoting tourism cooperation by highlighting the diverse landscapes, cultures, and attractions of each country seems also uncharted territory. We particularly need to showcase the beauties of Pakistan to the Turkish people while facilitating easier travel to/from our countries. With Turkiye welcoming over 60 million tourists annually, we are eager to share our expertise while also learning from Pakistan’s rich cultural and natural treasures.

At the heart of any strong relationship are the people themselves. We must not only strengthen our fraternity but also be able to pass on this legacy to younger generations perhaps by establishing a biannual platform: Shura of Fraternity.

That brings me to yet another kingmaker: parliamentary diplomacy. As an ambassador, seasoned in parliamentary affairs for more than 25 years in different capacities, including being the secretary-general, inter-parliamentary cooperation is dear to my heart and mind. Lawmakers have a great potential to foster closer legislative cooperation as well as mutual awareness among various provinces, cities and districts of Turkiye and Pakistan.

Economically, we have made strides, yet the potential remains vast. Recent agreements like the Trade in Goods Agreement were steppingstones, but we must aim higher. The goal to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion is within reach. Sectors like textiles, agriculture, energy, tourism, mining, logistics, pharmaceuticals and information technology where both countries have comparative advantages should be further explored.

We should not shy away from promoting investment in each other's economies. Turkish investments in Pakistan currently stand at $3.5 billion which can easily be boosted with fine-tuning of sectoral acquis. A Free Trade Agreement could be the next step. Advancing air, land, and sea connectivity within regional frameworks like Middle Corridor, Development Road and CPEC as well as jointly investing in infrastructure hold the key to building bridges of prosperity within Greater Eurasia. Joint efforts for flagship projects, trade expansion and third-country market access will make a huge difference.

We are proud to contribute to Pakistan’s progress through TIKA projects, from healthcare to education and agriculture. Prominent Turkish NGOs are actively working across the country on health, education, culture and social uplift, reaching out daily lives of our sisters and brothers.

Our connection is also an open-ended geopolitical story. Both countries are situated at the crossroads of the Heartland, being gatekeepers and game-changers as part and the parcel of the broader geopolitical theatre. In the face of evolving security threats, maintaining strategic defence cooperation is paramount. Our defence cooperation is the crown jewel of our relationship. From joint military exercises to defence production, Turkiye and Pakistan are brothers-in-arms. Our end state is stability, peace and security. I envision a future where our defence industries create a single ecosystem.

Turkiye suffered a lot from terrorism. We will unwaveringly support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Our efforts within multilateral fora have enabled us to effectively address pressing issues such as Israeli atrocities in Gaza, counterterrorism, and Islamophobia. Just as Turkiye stands firmly with Pakistan on Kashmir, Pakistan consistently shows its resolute support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

As a matter of fact, our bond is rooted in history, strengthened by shared values, and destined for an even brighter future. We are family. We look forward to charting a more strategic and results-driven path at the 7th High-Level Strategic Council meeting, unlocking new opportunities. As we honour the legacies of our founding fathers, Ataturk and Quaid-e-Azam Jinnah, we remain committed to forging a future of shared success.

As I had the honour to be here in Pakistan, I am committed to strengthening every aspect of our bond. Our door is open to all Pakistani brothers and sisters. Let’s dream big, work hard, and achieve even more together. Time is running out quickly and we have a lot of untapped potential. Together we remain, and stronger we become. Let’s keep up with making history. Long live, Turkish-Pakistani eternal brotherhood!

The writer is the ambassador of Turkiye to Pakistan.