ISLAMABAD: Paki­stan and Turkiye on Friday concluded the 18th edition of their High-Level Military Dialogue Group, reaffirming the commitment to enha­ncing bilateral defe­nce and security cooperation.

The discussions, hosted at the Ministry of Defence in Rawalpindi from Feb 13 to 16, covered a broad spectrum of defence cooperation areas, including training exercises, exchange programmes, and co-production of military equipment. Progress from decisions made during the last meeting in Turkiye was also evaluated.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Hamooduz Zaman Khan, while the Turkish delegation was steered by Gen Irfan Ozsert, the deputy chief of General Staff.

The meeting focused on pivotal issues such as security challenges, counter-terrorism effo­rts, and the current regional and geopolitical climate.

Both delegations expr­essed satisfaction with the existing momentum of defence cooperation and agreed to further enhance their partnership, the ministry said in a statement.

A preliminary meeting between Gen Ozsert and Mr Khan set the groundwork for the detailed discussions that followed during the 18th edition of the high-level military dialogue.

An official highlighted that this year’s dialogue not only underscored the robust military and strategic partnership betw­een Pakistan and Turkiye but also laid the foundation for future collaboration, aimed at strengthening peace and security in the region.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2024