Signing of minutes between Yasar GULER, Deputy Chief of Turkish Staff and Secretary Defence Lt Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak in Ankara/Turkey. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Turkey will provide 34, T-37 aircraft and their spare parts to Pakistan free of charge as part of a landmark deal signed during a meeting of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Military Dialogue Group (HLMDG) that concluded in Ankara on Wednesday.
The two nations have reached this agreement at a time when Turkey is believed to be seeking Pakistan’s increased security and defence cooperation to deal with the emerging threats, posed to its integrity by the ultraorthodox Islamic State terrorist group and Kurd rebels.
“T-37 is a jet trainer and light attack aircraft and Turkey on Pakistan’s desire of acquiring the aircraft extended the courtesy of 34 jets without charging a single penny,” said an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.
The signing of the agreement took place between Pakistan’s Director General Defence Procurement Major General Naveed Ahmed and Turkey’s Chief of Logistics Major General Serdar Gulbas while a joint communiqué was signed by Pakistan’s Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak and Deputy Chief of Turkish General Staff General Yasar Guler.
During his visit, Khattak highlighted Pakistan’s defence capability and military capacity and requirements in the current global perspective. The secretary also extended felicitations on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodogan’s initiatives for democracy and highlighted the exemplary brotherly relations between the two countries.
“Pakistan desires to further translate these relations into strategic cooperation, signifying strategic importance of our relations,” the defence secretary said.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation at regional and multinational forums, including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organisation and the D-8 platform.
Expressing his views in the HLMDG on regional and global security, Khattak said both working groups did considerable work to review progress on decisions that were taken in the last HLMDG meeting as well as new agenda relating to politico-military matters and defence industry cooperation.
He expressed the desire to further expand cooperation between defence industries and from strategic to joint venture levels. “He also took the opportunity to thank Turkish defence industry for support in naval, air and communication systems,” the statement said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2015.
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