Erdogan arrives in Pakistan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan landed at the Nur Khan Airbase near Islamabad today (Feb 13) shortly after 4 PM on a two-day visit to Pakistan.

As they stepped down the plane, the Turkish president and his wife Emine Erdoğan were welcomes by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who then personally drove them from the airport.

At the airport, the president and Turkish First Lady were presented guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent. Two cute kids presented bouquets to the distinguished guests.

Upon their arrival at the Prime Minister House, an army band played national anthems of both Pakistan and Turkey.

Strict security arrangements were made ahead of the guests' arrival and welcoming posters were put up on the main roads of the capital ahead.

#Marhaba Erdogan was the top twitter trend in Pakistan since Thursday morning as an expression of Pakistanis' love for the Turkish president for his strong pro-Muslim stance.

President Erdogan, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet members and senior government officials besides heads and CEOs of leading Turkish corporations, is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

During the visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Erdogan will have a one-on-one meeting, after which they will co-chair the 6th Session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council in the joint cabinet format.

At the conclusion of the session, a Joint Declaration will be signed. A number of important agreements and MoUs are also expected to be signed during the visit. The two leaders will have a joint press stakeout.

The visiting dignitary will also address a Joint Session of Parliament of Pakistan on Friday for the record fourth time and meet President Arif Alvi during the trip.

President Erdogan and Prime Minister Imran Khan will also address the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum which brings together leading investors and business-people from both sides.

Turkey supports the cause of self-determination for the people of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The visit of President Erdogan will prove to be another significant milestone in further deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership.

The Foreign Office had announced that the Turkish president would visit Pakistan from Feb 13 to 14 for underscoring “traditional solidarity and affinity” between the two countries and further “deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership”.

Talking to Anadolu Agency Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul said that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Islamabad would be a historic event and major step towards exemplary bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries.

He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is at the completion level and Turkey is interested in being a part of special economic zones, which will be established under the project.

Prime Minister Imran is expected to invite Turkey to join CPEC. In an interview with a Turkish newswire, he had said that "we hope to involve them in using CPEC for further connectivity, and we hope to involve Turkey in this”.

The prime minister also wants Turkish investors to invest in Pakistan’s mining sector and engage in technology transfer projects.

“Both sides place a strong emphasis on forging a robust economic relationship,” the Pakistan Foreign Office said.

“Pakistan and Turkey have a unique and abiding relationship characterised by mutual support and exceptional mutual trust and understanding. The two brotherly countries have always been each other’s steadfast partners. Turkey supports the cause of self-determination for the people of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan stands by Turkey on the question of Cyprus,” it said.

Turkey and Pakistan are expected to sign a number of important agreements/memorandums of understanding to formalise some of the understandings that would be reached during the HLSCC meeting.

The HLSCC is the highest-level decision-making forum that provides strategic direction to the ties.

here are seven joint working groups under the HLSCC working on political coordination, trade and investment, energy, banking and finance, transport and communications, culture and tourism, and education.

HLSCC meetings are held alternatively in Islamabad and Ankara.