Pakistan and Turkish Army Relation

Pakistan has an embassy in Ankara, a Consulate-General in Istanbul and an honorary consulate in Izmir whereas, Turkey has an embassy in Islamabad, a Consulate-General in Karachi and honorary consulates in Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot and Faisalabad. As of 2016, in a joint communique, Pakistan and Turkey plan to strengthen their close ties into a "strategic partnership".[1][2]

Relations date back generations before the establishment of the two states, more precisely during the Turkish War of Independence when the Muslims of the northwestern British Raj sent financial aid to the declining Ottoman Empire, due to historic relations between the Mughal Empire and the Ottoman Empire, which was followed by the formation of the Turkish Republic and the Independence of Pakistan. Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close cultural, historical and military relations which are now expanding into deepening economic relations as both countries seek to develop their economies. Turkey supports Pakistan's position of holding a plebiscite under the UN to decide if Kashmir wants to join Pakistan, a position which Turkish President Erdogan reaffirmed in a joint address to the Pakistani parliament and which was attended by Pakistan's military high command.[3][4] Turkey supports Pakistan's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group[5] Analysts have also observed that Turkey and Pakistan enjoy close relations during both democratic and military regimes, reflecting the depth of the relations between the two nations.[6]

Ties which had historically remained close on nationalist and cultural grounds further deepened under President Erdogan's Islamic-rooted political approach, as he termed Pakistan "home away from home". He became the only foreign leader to address Pakistan's Parliament, the National Assembly more than once, doing so a record three times.[7] As of 2016, President Erdogan has visited Pakistan 7 times, domestic politics also spillover, infamously Fethullah Gulen linked officers leaked tapes alleging corruption and arrested Erdogan's close aides, while Erdogan was on a trip to Pakistan, Erdogan accused the Gulenists of sabotage while representing Turkey in a friendly nation.[8] Gulen-linked schools are under pressure to close and teachers have had their visas turned down at the behest of the Turkish government since the attempted coup, an indicator of Pakistan's close ties to the Turkish government.[9][10] The Pakistan and Turkish Air Force signed a deal to purchase 52 Super Mushkak trainer jets from Pakistan for Turkey to help train new pilots and support recovery of the Turkish Armed Forces in the aftermath of pilot shortages after the attempted coup.[11][12][13]