UPDATE 2 - Turkish president, Pakistani premier discuss ties, global issues

UPDATES WITH PAKISTANI PREMIER'S POST

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday discussed bilateral relations, regional and global issues on the margins of the International Peace and Trust Forum in Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat.

Erdogan said Ankara is working on enhancing "good relations" with Islamabad, and that Türkiye will make efforts to increase cooperation between the two nations in various fields, such as energy, trade and investment, according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

Expressing his appreciation over the extension of the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Erdogan noted Ankara's readiness to contribute to the mechanism established to maintain stability.

For his part, Sharif said on US social media company X that they "reaffirmed the deep, historic bonds between Pakistan and Türkiye and our shared resolve to further strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, defence, connectivity, and investment."

"Met my dear brother, President @RTErdogan on the sidelines of the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Ashgabat. It is always a pleasure to exchange views with a time-tested and trusted friend of Pakistan.

"We also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including Gaza and Afghanistan, reaffirming our commitment to peace, stability, and the well-being of our peoples, the region and beyond," he added.

Erdogan also held a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The two discussed bilateral relations, global and regional issues.

Erdogan said that Ankara is aiming to advance cooperation in every field between the two nations, especially trade, energy, defense industry and culture.

Erdogan congratulated Berdimuhamedov on the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's Permanent Neutrality status.

The International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat is held to mark the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s status of permanent neutrality and the UN General Assembly's designation of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust.”