The meeting
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met Turkiye’s Chief of the General Staff, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on 30 January 2026. Dawn reported that the two discussed the regional security landscape and bilateral defence cooperation.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said General Bayraktaroglu called on CDF Munir at GHQ. Upon his arrival, the Turkish general was presented with a guard of honour by a contingent of the Pakistan armed forces.
What was discussed
According to the ISPR statement, the two sides covered “matters of mutual interest, prevailing regional and global security landscape, and prospects for strengthening bilateral defence and military cooperation”.
The statement said they expressed satisfaction with the current trajectory of Pakistan-Turkiye relations and underscored the need for maintaining close coordination and enhancing defence collaboration. CDF Munir highlighted the “longstanding brotherly relationship” between the two countries, rooted in shared history, mutual trust and strong people-to-people ties. He appreciated the support extended by the Turkish armed forces and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening military-to-military relations.
General Bayraktaroglu expressed gratitude for the warm reception and appreciated the professionalism of the Pakistan armed forces, the statement said. He reaffirmed Turkiye’s resolve to deepen defence cooperation, including training, joint exercises and capacity-building initiatives.
Why it matters
Pakistan and Turkiye maintain close defence and diplomatic ties, and the two militaries regularly conduct joint exercises and training exchanges. The meeting at GHQ came as Pakistan’s security establishment engages with partners on regional security, and it underscored the two countries’ stated intent to broaden cooperation across training and capacity-building.
Sources & reporting notes
This report is based on a contemporaneous ISPR statement as carried in coverage reviewed on 2026-01-31.
- Dawn — CDF Munir, Turkiye's chief of general staff discuss regional security landscape and defence cooperationPublished 30 January 2026 · Carries the ISPR statement on the GHQ meeting, the guard of honour, the topics discussed and both sides' stated commitments.
