COAS meets Erdoğan, other top officials during historic visit to Türkiye

Rawalpindi: An official visit by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir to Türkiye has reaffirmed the historic diplomatic and military ties between Pakistan and Türkiye. The visit, marked by high-level meetings and tributes to shared history, underscores the enduring partnership between these two nations.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a press statement highlighting the significance of Gen Syed Asim Munir’s visit. It stated, “The visit is part of the high-level mutual visits by both the brotherly countries to enhance the historic diplomatic and military ties.” During his stay, Gen Munir met with key Türkiye leaders, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, foreign and defense ministers, the commander of the Turkish General Staff, and commanders of Turkish land and air forces.

Discussions during these meetings centered on enhancing defense collaboration and training cooperation. Gen Munir praised the Turkish military for its efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the region, acknowledging the high standards of operational readiness of the Turkish armed forces. Turkish leaders also expressed their gratitude for the assistance provided by Pakistan Army engineers during a recent earthquake in Türkiye.

As a mark of respect and homage, Gen Munir visited the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara and laid a floral wreath in honor of the great leader.

The highlight of the visit was Gen Munir’s visit to the Turkish land forces headquarters, where he received a warm welcome and was presented with a Guard of Honour. In recognition of his significant contributions to promoting defense relations between the two nations, Gen Munir was conferred with the Legion of Merit by the Turkish Minister of Defense and the Commander of Turkish Land Forces.

During the award ceremony, Gen Munir emphasized the enduring brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye, stating, “Pakistan and Türkiye have strong brotherly relations which have always stood the test of time. Pakistan Army is always willing to extend full support to the Turkish land forces in multiple domains.” He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening the fraternal ties between the two nations, emphasizing solidarity in times of adversity and triumph.