Turkey-Pakistan pledges to intensify defense cooperation

ANKARA

Various proposals to boost defense alliance were discussed by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain with the Turkish Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz. CİHAN Photo

Turkey and Pakistan have pledged to intensify efforts for further promoting cooperation in the defense field during a meeting of two nations’ top defense officials in Ankara.

Various proposals to boost defense alliance were discussed by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain with the Turkish Defense Minister and other defense industry executives in the Turkish capital.

During his interaction with the Turkish defense industry leadership, the Pakistani Minister is discussing proposals for transfer of technology, possibility of export of defense equipment/services and briefing the hosts about the initiatives and progress made by Pakistan in defense production sector.

The ministers also discussed progress on the ongoing defense projects including midlife upgrading F-16 fighter aircrafts of Pakistan at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), construction of Logistics Support Ship for Pakistan Navy by STM of Turkey at Karachi Shipyard.

In his meeting with Murad Bayar, head of the Undersecretariat for the Turkish Defense Industry, the Pakistani minister expressed the hope that like in the past, Turkish defense industry will showcase their products and participate in the forthcoming International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) being held in Pakistan from 1-4 December 2014.

The program of the Pakistan delegation also includes visits and detailed briefings at the TAI, Military Electronic Industries of Turkey (ASELSAN), Turkish Military Software Corporation (HAVELSAN), Machinery and Chemical Industries (MKEK), MilSOFT, FNSS Defense Systems.