President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan landed in Pakistan on Friday to co-chair the 7th Session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) aimed at deepening bilateral relations when Islamabad is struggling with an economic crisis.
Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed a slew of bilateral agreements on Thursday, a sign of Pakistan’s desire to integrate more with Turkey. Following the signing, Sharif greeted Erdogan warmly, stating, “On behalf of the Pakistani people, my government, and myself, I would like to welcome you from the bottom of my heart. It is great to have you here after five years.”
This visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Sharif, is one of the first big high-level engagements Pakistan is hosting in some time, after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in October 2024.
The reception by Erdogan was nothing short of grandiose, as a display of respect and cultural celebrations marked his five-year return. He was received at Rawalpindi by President Asif Ali Zardari and was presented a guard of honour. The Turkish president was received by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir at the PM House, where a flypast of fighter jets, including F-16s, was held in his honour.
As Erdogan’s convoy traveled along Constitution Avenue in Islamabad, the roads were decorated with flags of both nations and welcome banners commemorating their eternal friendship. The festivities also included cultural dance performances arranged to celebrate the day.
A song was also prepared by the Pakistani government in Erdogan’s honor, which was broadcast on various television channels, once again highlighting the significance of this visit.
