Turkey's defense exhibition opens in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

The fifth edition of the Defense Port Turkey exhibition kicked off Thursday in Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Over 30 prominent defense manufacturers and organizations from public and private sector are exhibiting their advanced defense technologies in land, sea, air and security systems at the exhibition.

The three-day exhibition was inaugurated by Azam Khan Swati, Pakistan's federal minister of parliamentary affairs, and Mustafa Seker, vice president of Turkish Presidency of Defense Industry.

Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Yurdakul and high-ranking civil and military officials also attended the opening ceremony.

The series of defense exhibitions are being organized by Turkey since 2014 at the national and international level.

"This exhibition is an acknowledgement of the strong bonds that exist between Pakistan and Turkey," Swati said in his address.

"Turkey has become one of the growing manufacturer and exporters of military hardware of international standard and 2023 is not very far when it will achieve self sufficiency in the domain of defense manufacture," he added.

Seker said it is a great honor for him to be sitting in his second home, Pakistan.

"Turkey and Pakistan are two brotherly countries and we have strong and historical relations," he said.

The exhibition will be open for public on Oct. 26.

Ankara and Islamabad have long been part of different pacts but they have boosted their cooperation after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took office.

In July 2018, Pakistan’s navy signed a contract for the acquisition of four MILGEM-class ships from Turkey.

Islamabad is also set to receive 30 T129 Advanced Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance (ATAK) helicopters from Turkey under a deal finalized in July 2018.

The helicopters, specifically designed for attack and reconnaissance, will be delivered gradually over five years.

Ankara is, meanwhile, buying MFI-17 Super Mushshak aircraft from Pakistan besides upgrading three Pakistani submarines and jointly building a fleet tanker.