Pakistan, Türkiye historic friends: Umar Rehman Malik

Abdullah Jan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik this week said that Pakistan and Türkiye were historic friends.

“The historic visit of President @RTErdogan marked by President @AAliZardari and First Lady @AseefaBZ’s gracious welcome, reflects the enduring bond between Türkiye and Pakistan—rooted in brotherhood, shared history, and a future of mutual cooperation,” he said citing the recent visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish President had arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit this week to boost trade and military ties between Ankara and Islamabad.

Erdogan, accompanied by a high-level delegation and the Turkish first lady, arrived in Pakistan’s capital late on Wednesday and held high-level meetings on Thursday.

He was greeted by his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior government officials.

“President Erdogan was received at the airport with red carpet treatment and a 21-gun salute. Later as he arrived at the prime minister’s house, he was given guard of honour and Air Force jets did a fly past in honour of the Turkish president,” said Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from the capital, Islamabad.

Umar Rehman Malik said the visit Pakistan and Türkiye were bound to enhance cooperation in the years to come.

Pakistan was the third stopover of Erdogan’s three-nation trip, which also brought him to the two Southeast Asian nations of Malaysia and Indonesia.