ANKARA (The Thursday Times) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at Ankara Airport on Tuesday, where the two held a closed-door meeting during Field Marshal Asim Munir’s two-day official visit to Türkiye. The meeting was held at the airport as Erdoğan was preparing to depart for an official visit to Qatar. The two leaders discussed regional security, matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their shared vision for strengthening the Pakistan-Türkiye strategic partnership, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations and the Turkish Presidency.
The closed-press meeting was attended by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Chief of the Turkish General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and National Intelligence Organisation Director İbrahim Kalın. During his visit, Field Marshal Asim Munir also called on Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler. The ISPR said the high-level deliberations underscored the shared vision of both nations to foster a more robust strategic partnership in an evolving geopolitical environment.
Field Marshal Asim Munir received a guard of honour from a tri-services contingent of the Turkish Armed Forces on his arrival in Ankara. He held a detailed meeting with General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu at the Turkish General Staff headquarters to discuss regional security and defence cooperation. In recognition of his distinguished services and commitment to strengthening bilateral military ties, Field Marshal Asim Munir was awarded the Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal, one of Türkiye’s highest military honours.
During the visit, Field Marshal Asim Munir also travelled to Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, where he laid a floral wreath and paid respects to the founder of modern Türkiye, acknowledging his visionary leadership and the deep-rooted historical bonds between the two nations. He also met General Metin Tokel, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, at their headquarters.
The visit comes weeks after General Metin Tokel travelled to Rawalpindi last month and met Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters, where the two discussed regional security dynamics and avenues for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Erdoğan in Istanbul, where the two leaders reaffirmed their brotherly ties and pledged to expand economic cooperation with a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion. Türkiye is also building corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy under the two countries’ long-standing defence relationship.
Field Marshal Asim Munir’s international profile has risen in recent months following the central role he played in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran. The Türkiye visit continues a sustained period of Pakistani defence and diplomatic engagement, and signifies, the ISPR said, the resolve of both nations to further strengthen their multifaceted defence relationship and continue their joint efforts for regional peace and stability.
