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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, accompanied by Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler, will pay an official visit to Pakistan on July 9, according to diplomatic sources.
The visit will include meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir.
During the visit, Fidan is expected to reaffirm Türkiye's commitment to its "exceptional" bilateral political relations with Pakistan and emphasize the goal of further strengthening ties across all sectors.
According to sources, he will underline that beyond political ties, cooperation in the economy, trade, military affairs, and the defense industry has become a driving force in the relationship.
Fidan will review the progress made since the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) meeting held in Islamabad in February 2025. He is expected to stress the importance of preparing in a timely manner for the eighth session of the Council, scheduled for 2026 in Türkiye.
The minister will also highlight the importance of Türkiye and Pakistan maintaining close dialogue and coordination on both regional and global issues.
Diplomatic sources state that Fidan will express Türkiye’s satisfaction over the de-escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India in May and reiterate readiness to contribute to efforts promoting regional peace and stability.
He will also underscore the need to strengthen defense industry cooperation in light of the evolving regional security environment and emphasize the importance of deeper collaboration in counterterrorism.
Fidan is expected to reiterate that resolving the Palestinian issue is critical for achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
He will also stress that instability in Afghanistan poses a direct threat to regional security.
Fidan previously visited Pakistan on May 18–20, 2024. His most recent meeting with his counterpart, Ishaq Dar, took place on June 21–22, during the 51st Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers' Council in Istanbul.
The Türkiye-Pakistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was originally established in 2009 as the High-Level Cooperation Council, and was later upgraded to its current format. Seven sessions have been held to date, with the latest in February 2025 resulting in the signing of 100 documents.
Several joint working groups were also restructured into Permanent Joint Committees during the seventh meeting.
The bilateral trade volume currently stands at approximately $1 billion, reaching $1.3 billion in 2024, with exports at $918 million and imports at $440 million. Both sides aim to raise this figure to $5 billion.
Türkiye’s investments in Pakistan total around $2 billion, and Turkish construction firms have completed 72 projects worth nearly $3.5 billion.
Cooperation is also expanding in energy and critical minerals. In April 2025, TPAO and Pakistan’s three national oil companies signed a Joint Bidding Agreement for hydrocarbon exploration—considered a significant step forward.
Pakistan also continues to support Türkiye’s fight against terrorist organizations including FETO, PKK, and Daesh, reaffirming a shared security outlook between the two nations.
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