Pakistan and Türkiye enjoy a relationship that is often described as brotherly, but this brotherhood is not merely a diplomatic phrase. It is rooted in history, emotion, faith, culture, and mutual respect. Long before Pakistan appeared on the map of the world in 1947, the Muslims of South Asia had developed a deep emotional connection with the people of Türkiye. During the difficult years faced by the Turkish people in the early twentieth century, Muslims of the subcontinent stood with them in spirit and solidarity. That memory still occupies a respected place in Türkiye’s national consciousness and helped create trust between the two nations even before formal diplomatic relations began.
When Pakistan emerged as an independent state on 14 August 1947, Türkiye warmly welcomed the new Muslim country. For Pakistan, Türkiye represented a nation with a proud history, a strong identity and an inspiring story of national revival. For Türkiye, Pakistan was a brotherly country whose people carried deep affection for the Turkish nation. This early goodwill soon developed into diplomatic ties, laying the foundation for a friendship that has survived shifting regional and global realities.
The early years after independence were important in giving structure to this relationship. In 1954, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the Treaty of Friendship, which strengthened bilateral understanding and opened the way for cooperation in political, diplomatic and cultural fields. During the Cold War, both countries also joined broader security arrangements, including the Baghdad Pact, later known as CENTO. Although those arrangements were set in a different global environment, they showed that Pakistan and Türkiye were willing to work together on matters of regional importance.
A more constructive chapter came through the Regional Cooperation for Development, known as RCD. Established in 1964 by Pakistan, Iran and Türkiye, RCD aimed to promote economic, cultural and development cooperation among three important Muslim countries located at the crossroads of South Asia, West Asia and Anatolia. It carried an important message for its time: Muslim countries could cooperate not only through faith and sentiment, but also through trade, roads, communication, industry, education and cultural exchange.
In 1985, RCD was restructured as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Later, ECO expanded to include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and the Central Asian republics. In this way, Pakistan and Türkiye became part of a wider regional platform linking South Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Türkiye. This regional vision remains relevant today, especially when connectivity, trade corridors, energy routes and regional markets are reshaping global politics.
Pakistan and Türkiye have also worked closely through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. As two important Muslim countries, both have often raised their voices for justice, dignity and humanitarian causes in the Muslim world. Their cooperation within the OIC has included political consultation, moral support and shared concern over issues affecting Muslim communities. At the same time, both countries are members of D 8, the Organization for Economic Cooperation among developing Muslim countries, established in Istanbul in 1997. D 8 created another platform through which Pakistan and Türkiye could work with Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria and Azerbaijan on trade, investment and development cooperation.
These regional platforms show that Pakistan-Türkiye relations have never been limited to speeches, ceremonies or symbolic gestures. From RCD to ECO, from OIC to D-8, both countries have remained part of a wider search for regional cooperation, economic dignity and collective progress. The challenge now is to turn this historic goodwill into measurable outcomes for citizens.
In the modern era, Pakistan-Türkiye relations have gained a stronger institutional structure through the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council, expanding cooperation in defense, trade, investment, education, culture, health, science and technology. The 2025 Islamabad Declaration reflected both countries’ commitment to deepening this partnership, including the target of raising bilateral trade to US$5 billion. Yet the relationship should not remain confined to state institutions alone. It must also reach students, universities, women entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, technology firms, local governments and community institutions.
Defense cooperation has grown in naval, aerospace and production fields, but the future agenda should be broader. Economic modernization, tourism, digital skills, agriculture, climate resilience, youth leadership and women’s participation should receive equal attention. Türkiye’s success in tourism planning and national branding offers useful lessons for Pakistan, which has mountains, ancient civilizations, Sufi heritage, coastal areas, religious sites and cultural diversity, but still needs stronger planning, safety standards, infrastructure and international promotion.
This brings us to an important question: what can Pakistan learn from Türkiye? Türkiye is a Muslim-majority country, but it has shown that faith and modern development do not need to stand against each other. It has preserved its cultural and religious identity while investing in infrastructure, education, tourism, industry, technology, public services and national image. Pakistan should not blindly copy Türkiye, because every country has its own history, society and constitutional path. But Pakistan can certainly learn from Türkiye’s ability to combine identity with modernization, national pride with productivity, and tradition with public discipline.
In Pakistan, faith and progress are often presented as opposing ideas, especially around modern education, women’s participation, tourism, civic freedom and scientific thinking. Türkiye offers a more balanced lesson: a Muslim society can remain proud of its faith while promoting education, entrepreneurship, public order, culture and global engagement. Religion should inspire honesty, tolerance, compassion and public service, not restrict knowledge, creativity or economic development.
The next phase of Pakistan Türkiye cooperation should be practical, people-centered and development-oriented. Both countries can expand their partnership in education, vocational training, youth leadership, women’s economic empowerment, climate action, digital innovation, entrepreneurship and policy dialogue. Joint training programs, exchange visits, cooperation among technical institutes, climate awareness campaigns and digital learning platforms can bring this relationship closer to ordinary citizens.
Climate resilience is another important area for cooperation. Pakistan faces serious climate challenges, while Türkiye has useful experience in urban planning, disaster response, renewable energy, municipal services and environmental management. Both countries can work together on climate literacy, green skills, water conservation, disaster preparedness, and community-based environmental education.
Digital transformation also offers strong opportunities. Pakistan’s young population needs practical skills in freelancing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital entrepreneurship. Türkiye’s growing technology ecosystem can offer useful models for start-ups, innovation, incubation and public service digitization. Such cooperation can support young entrepreneurs, women-led enterprises, and community-based digital initiatives.
Pakistan and Türkiye must therefore look at their relationship not only through the memories of the past, but also through the needs of the future. Brotherhood becomes truly meaningful when it improves lives, creates jobs, builds institutions, and gives hope to the younger generation. The challenge now is to transform goodwill into shared prosperity, in which identity, dignity, knowledge, tolerance, and progress strengthen one another.
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Muhammad Anwar is a development professional and CEO of Freedom Gate Prosperity, with over three decades of experience in governance, civic engagement, and community development.
