Turkish Land Forces commander holds high-level defence meetings in Pakistan

Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, Metin Tokel, held a series of high-level meetings with Pakistan's military and political leadership during his visit to the country, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and regional stability.

Upon his arrival at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, General Tokel was presented with a guard of honour by a contingent of the Pakistan Army.

The Turkish commander later met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, where the two sides discussed matters of mutual professional interest, regional security dynamics and opportunities for enhanced defence cooperation.

According to the military's media wing, Asim Munir highlighted the deep-rooted historical, cultural and strategic ties between Pakistan and Türkiye and appreciated the strong defence partnership between the armed forces of the two countries.

During the visit, General Tokel also called on Chief of Naval Staff Naveed Ashraf at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad. The meeting focused on professional matters and the regional maritime security environment.

The Turkish commander separately met Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at Air Headquarters, where discussions centered on bilateral military cooperation and issues of professional interest.

Officials said General Tokel praised the professionalism of Pakistan's armed forces and acknowledged their contribution to regional peace and stability. He also expressed a desire to further strengthen defence cooperation and institutional linkages between the armed forces of the two countries.

The visiting dignitary also called on Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in Islamabad.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye, describing them as being rooted in shared history, mutual trust, close people-to-people contacts and broad-based cooperation.

General Tokel appreciated Pakistan's efforts to promote peace and stability in the region and highlighted the importance of the Pakistan–Türkiye High-Level Military Dialogue Group (HLMDG) as an effective mechanism for advancing defence, military and defence-industrial cooperation.

He reiterated Türkiye's commitment to regional peace and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between the two countries.

Khawaja Asif expressed gratitude for the support extended by the Turkish leadership and people to Pakistan, particularly during difficult times.

Both sides exchanged views on regional developments and discussed avenues for expanding defence collaboration. The meetings concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthening the strategic defence partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye.