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Pakistan and Turkey’s relationship in 2025 has entered a phase of exceptional maturity and strategic depth, underscoring not just bilateral goodwill but a deliberate recalibration in response to shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes. At the heart of this growing alliance are shared histories of cultural affinity and religious solidarity, but what makes this partnership remarkable today is its ambition to transcend symbolic gestures and forge concrete, multidimensional cooperation.
The Pakistan-Turkey partnership in 2025 reflects unprecedented strategic depth, moving far beyond symbolic ties.
The political leadership of both countries has been pivotal. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s February 2025 visit to Islamabad and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s reciprocal trip to Ankara in May were not routine diplomatic rituals; they were decisive moments where 24 agreements were signed across critical sectors, setting the stage for a more institutionalized partnership.
This is no small feat in a world where bilateral commitments often struggle to convert into practical outcomes. It reflects a mutual recognition that only sustained political will, backed by mechanisms like the newly established Joint Standing Committee on security, defense, and intelligence, can deliver on the ambitions articulated in summit communiqués.
In the defense domain, the partnership has moved beyond simple procurement or military-to-military exchanges. Joint production of MILGEM corvettes and upgrades to Pakistan’s fighter fleet showcase a level of technological collaboration that signals strategic trust. Turkey’s open diplomatic support for Pakistan during its recent tensions with India, particularly Ankara’s call for international scrutiny of incidents in Kashmir, further reinforces the idea that this alliance is not merely transactional but underpinned by shared geopolitical stakes. Scholars such as Hasan Yüksel (2024) argue that Turkey’s increasing involvement in South Asian security architecture reflects Ankara’s broader Eurasian vision, a vision that sees Pakistan as a linchpin in balancing regional powers (Yüksel, Journal of Eurasian Studies).
The economic relationship is also evolving with unprecedented ambition. Setting a $5 billion bilateral trade target, up from $1.5 billion, signals that both Islamabad and Ankara are looking to create robust interdependencies. Efforts to expand the Trade in Goods Agreement and remove tariffs on dozens of products are complemented by Turkish investments in Pakistan’s energy, infrastructure, and consumer goods sectors.
The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad railway and CPEC serve as critical arteries in this ambition, knitting together trans-Eurasian trade routes that could recalibrate regional commerce. According to the Turkish Ministry of Trade (2025), Turkish investments in Pakistan’s energy sector alone have seen a 35% increase over the past year, underscoring the tangible nature of these commitments.
Joint defense projects and expanded trade agreements signal robust interdependence between Ankara and Islamabad.
What is particularly striking is the emergence of new cooperation sectors—IT services, fintech, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. These reflect an astute recognition by both governments that the future of economic competitiveness lies in technological and digital domains. Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), established to streamline foreign investment procedures, is proving instrumental in attracting Turkish firms seeking entry into Pakistan’s markets, which remain under-penetrated and brimming with potential. This is not just about trade figures; it is about aligning Pakistan’s economic modernization goals with Turkish technical expertise.
Diplomatically, Pakistan and Turkey continue to function as mutual supporters on contentious issues such as Kashmir and Cyprus, and they have jointly advocated for a two-state solution in Palestine. Their coordination on Middle East stability, against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and shifting U.S. engagement patterns, positions them as stabilizing forces in a volatile region. Analysts like Ahmet Davutoğlu (2023) have long emphasized Turkey’s aspiration to lead a coalition of “peripheral powers” that can shape multipolarity in global affairs (Foreign Affairs), and Pakistan fits squarely within this strategic design.
However, it is critical to temper this optimism with a recognition of the challenges ahead. Both countries face domestic political volatility, economic pressures, and the ever-present risk of overextension in their foreign policy ambitions. Moreover, delivering on the promises of bilateral agreements will require sustained bureaucratic efficiency, private sector engagement, and careful management of external diplomatic pressures.
Both nations position themselves as stabilizing forces in Eurasia, advocating for multipolarity and regional balance.
Yet, there is no doubt that Pakistan-Turkey relations in 2025 stand at their most consequential point in decades. This is not merely a ceremonial friendship rooted in shared slogans; it is a dynamic, evolving partnership that holds the potential to reshape regional alignments. For Pakistan, deepening ties with Turkey offer not just diplomatic backing but a pathway to technological and economic revitalization. For Turkey, Pakistan provides a strategic foothold in South Asia, amplifying Ankara’s geopolitical influence across Eurasia and the Muslim world. The coming years will test whether this partnership can fully realize its transformative potential, but the foundations laid in 2025 offer a promising start.
The author is a graduate of International Relations and an Islamabad-based freelancer writer.
