Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to further improve their defence and military cooperation as both countries look to build a stronger strategic partnership. The latest development came during a high-level meeting in Istanbul between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Türkiye’s Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler.
The meeting took place on August 31, 2026, shortly before the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee created under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The Turkish Chief of General Staff, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, also attended the meeting. Pakistani and Turkish officials agreed that defence cooperation between the two brotherly countries should be expanded further, especially in areas that can improve regional security.
The latest talks show that defence relations between Pakistan and Türkiye are moving into a new phase. The two countries already have close military ties, including cooperation in defence production, training, military exercises and security matters. Their latest agreement suggests that both sides want to build on this relationship and explore more areas of cooperation.
Strong Defence Relations Between Pakistan and Türkiye
Pakistan and Türkiye have enjoyed close relations for many years. Their friendship is based on history, culture and strong people-to-people links, but defence cooperation has become one of the most important parts of their relationship.
The armed forces of both countries regularly interact through military exercises, training programmes and official visits. Pakistan has also worked with Türkiye on defence equipment and technology projects.
In April 2026, the 20th round of the Pakistan–Türkiye High Level Military Dialogue Group was held at the Ministry of Defence in Rawalpindi. During the meeting, officials discussed regional security, defence cooperation, military training, capacity building and cooperation between the two countries’ defence industries.
The discussions also looked at ways to improve the wider strategic partnership between Islamabad and Ankara. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the results of the meeting and agreed to continue regular discussions on defence-related matters.
This shows that the latest meeting in Istanbul is not an isolated development. Instead, it is part of a longer process through which Pakistan and Türkiye have been steadily increasing their military cooperation.
New Focus on Joint Defence Cooperation
The agreement to further improve defence cooperation can cover several important areas.
One major area is military training. Pakistan and Türkiye can continue to increase exchanges between their armed forces and provide opportunities for military personnel to learn from each other.
Joint exercises can also help both sides improve their ability to work together during difficult situations. Such exercises allow military forces to practise communication, planning and coordination.
Another important area is defence technology. Türkiye has developed a growing defence industry, especially in drones, unmanned systems and other military technologies. Pakistan also has a developing defence production sector and has experience in areas such as aircraft, weapons systems and military equipment.
Greater cooperation between the two countries could therefore create opportunities for joint development and production of defence equipment.
Makkah Defence Agreement Adds a New Dimension
The latest Pakistan-Türkiye discussions are also taking place after an important regional development.
On August 7, 2026, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in the Saudi city of Makkah. The agreement aims to strengthen collective security and cooperation among the three countries.
According to the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three. The agreement also calls for stronger cooperation across different areas of defence.
The agreement is designed to improve collective deterrence and support peace and stability in the region.
This new arrangement has given Pakistan and Türkiye another platform to strengthen their defence relationship while working closely with Saudi Arabia.
First Strategic Committee Meeting in Istanbul
The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah agreement is being held in Istanbul on August 31.
Pakistan is being represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The meeting is also being attended by the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
The meeting is an important step because it creates a formal system for the three countries to discuss defence and political matters.
For Pakistan and Türkiye, it provides another opportunity to coordinate their positions on regional security issues and discuss practical ways to improve military cooperation.
Cooperation in Defence Technology
Defence technology is likely to remain an important part of Pakistan-Türkiye relations.
Türkiye has become known internationally for the development of unmanned aerial systems and other defence technologies. Pakistan has also shown strong interest in improving its military technology and local defence production.
Closer cooperation could help both countries share experience and work on new projects.
Areas such as unmanned systems, air defence, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly important in modern military operations. Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have indicated that their new defence framework can include cooperation in such fields.
Reports on the Makkah agreement have also pointed to possible joint exercises involving land, sea and air forces, along with cooperation in areas such as air defence, unmanned systems and electronic warfare. Joint development and production of defence technologies are also expected to be part of the wider cooperation.
For Pakistan, stronger cooperation with Türkiye could support its efforts to increase domestic defence production and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers in selected areas.
More Military Exercises Expected
Military exercises are another area where Pakistan and Türkiye can increase cooperation.
Joint exercises give soldiers and officers from both countries a chance to understand each other’s systems and methods. They also help improve communication and teamwork.
Pakistan and Türkiye have already held military exercises together in the past. Increasing the number and scope of such exercises could further improve the ability of their forces to work together.
These exercises can take place across different areas, including land, air and sea operations.
The wider Makkah defence framework is also expected to encourage more joint military activities among Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
Such cooperation is important at a time when security conditions in the region are changing quickly.
Defence Industry Cooperation
The defence industry is another key part of the growing relationship.
Pakistan has a large defence production sector and has worked on aircraft, armoured vehicles, weapons and other military equipment. Türkiye has also invested heavily in developing its own defence companies and military technologies.
By working together, both countries could benefit from each other’s experience.
Joint projects could also create opportunities for local companies, engineers and skilled workers. Instead of simply buying defence equipment from one another, Pakistan and Türkiye could look at developing and producing certain systems together.
This could make the relationship more useful in the long term.
Defence industry cooperation can also support exports. If the two countries jointly develop successful military products, there may be opportunities to sell them to friendly countries.
Regional Security Is Becoming More Important
The latest development comes at a time of major security concerns in the Middle East and surrounding regions.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed as regional tensions were increasing. The agreement reflects the three countries’ desire to improve their ability to respond to security challenges and protect their interests.
Pakistan has traditionally maintained close relations with both Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. Stronger defence cooperation gives Islamabad another way to play a role in regional security and diplomacy.
Türkiye, meanwhile, has long maintained strong political and defence relations with Pakistan.
The three countries now have a formal framework through which they can discuss common security concerns.
What This Means for Pakistan
For Pakistan, stronger defence ties with Türkiye could bring several benefits.
First, it can provide more opportunities for military training and professional exchanges. Pakistani personnel can gain experience from Türkiye’s growing defence sector, while Turkish officials can also benefit from Pakistan’s long military experience.
Second, closer defence industry cooperation could help Pakistan improve its local production capabilities.
Third, stronger military relations can support Pakistan’s wider foreign policy goals.
Pakistan has been working to maintain strong relations with important countries in the Middle East and beyond. A closer partnership with Türkiye can help Islamabad improve coordination on regional security issues.
The new Makkah agreement also gives Pakistan a larger role in a three-country defence arrangement involving two important regional partners.
Türkiye Also Benefits From Closer Ties
The relationship is not one-sided.
Türkiye can also benefit from closer defence cooperation with Pakistan. Pakistan has a large and experienced military, along with an established defence industry.
The two countries can share knowledge and experience in different areas.
Pakistan’s geographical position is also important. It connects South Asia with the Middle East and Central Asia. Stronger relations with Pakistan can therefore support Türkiye’s wider regional interests.
At the same time, Pakistan and Türkiye have developed a high level of political trust over the years, making defence cooperation easier to expand.
A Relationship Moving Beyond Traditional Cooperation
The latest agreement suggests that Pakistan-Türkiye defence ties are no longer limited to traditional military cooperation.
The relationship is increasingly covering defence technology, joint production, training, strategic planning and regional security.
This is important because modern defence partnerships are not only about buying weapons. They also involve research, technology sharing, training, communication and joint planning.
The two countries appear interested in building a relationship that can continue growing over the coming years.
Wider Cooperation Under the Makkah Agreement
The Makkah agreement could make this relationship even stronger.
The agreement between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia creates a framework for greater cooperation among their defence and political leadership.
A joint statement said the agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence and improve cooperation in all areas of defence.
The first Strategic Political and Defence Committee meeting in Istanbul is an important early step in putting this framework into practice.
Officials from the three countries are expected to discuss how the new system will work and how they can coordinate more closely.
What Could Happen Next?
The coming months will show how far Pakistan and Türkiye can take their new defence cooperation.
More military exercises could be announced, while defence companies from both countries may explore new joint projects.
There could also be greater cooperation in drones, air defence, electronic systems and other modern technologies.
Regular meetings between senior military and political officials could become another important part of the relationship.
If these plans move forward, Pakistan and Türkiye could develop one of the stronger defence partnerships in the region.
A Stronger Strategic Partnership
Pakistan and Türkiye have already built a close friendship over many decades. Their latest defence discussions show that both countries want to take this relationship further.
The agreement reached in Istanbul on August 31 is important because it comes at a time when Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are also building a new regional defence framework.
Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to enhance joint defence cooperation, while the wider Makkah agreement provides another platform for coordination.
The focus on military training, defence technology, joint exercises, defence production and regional security could make the partnership more useful for both countries.
For Pakistan, stronger ties with Türkiye can provide access to new defence technology, training opportunities and possible joint production projects. For Türkiye, closer cooperation with Pakistan can strengthen its links with South Asia and provide another important defence partner.
The relationship is therefore expected to remain an important part of Pakistan’s foreign and defence policy.
As the new strategic committee begins its work, the next stage will be to turn these agreements and discussions into practical projects. If that happens, Pakistan and Türkiye could see even closer military and defence cooperation in the years ahead.
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