Blinken reaffirms commitment to ‘robust partnership’ in phone call with Pakistani foreign minister 

ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Pakistan with a high-level delegation from Feb.12-13, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Tuesday, during which he will co-chair the session of a high-level strategic cooperation council focusing on bilateral trade, investment and other priority sectors between the two countries, and oversee the signing of several agreements. 
The Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Cooperation Council (HLSCC) was established in 2009 as a framework for consultations at the highest political level between the two sides. Several joint standing committees under the HLSCC cover vital sectors such as trade, investment, banking, finance, culture, tourism, energy, defense, agriculture and others. 
Six sessions of the HLSCC have been conducted since it was founded, with the last one held in Islamabad from Feb. 13-14, 2020. 
Erdogan’s high-level delegation will comprise ministers, senior officials and corporate leaders, the foreign office said. 
“During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Erdogan will co-chair the 7th Session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC),” the foreign office said. “At the conclusion of the Session, a Joint Declaration and a number of important agreements/MoUs are expected to be signed. The two leaders will also address a joint press stakeout.”
Erdogan will hold bilateral meetings with Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, the foreign office said, adding that the Turkish president will address the Pakistan-Turkiye Business and Investment Forum with Sharif. The forum will bring together leading investors, companies and businesspersons from both sides, the statement said. 
“The visit of Turkish President and the holding of the 7th Session of the HLSCC would serve to further deepen the brotherly relations and enhance multifaceted cooperation between the two countries,” the foreign office said. 
Turkiye and Pakistan enjoy cordial relations with one another that has expanded to cooperation in several sectors between the two nations. Both agreed to enhance the bilateral trade volume to $5 billion last year in May when Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived in Pakistan’s capital on a two-day visit. 
Pakistan has been eagerly reaching out to international partners and close allies since last year in its quest to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis by strengthening cooperation in business, investment and other sectors. 
Pakistan’s economic crisis has drained its financial resources, weakened its national currency and triggered inflation in the country. The South Asian country has repeatedly stated its desire to achieve sustainable economic growth through foreign trade and investment, long-term reforms and by promoting exports.

KARACHI: Saudi warships took part in an international fleet review at the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karachi on Tuesday as Pakistan concluded its multinational naval exercise AMAN-25, which aimed to strengthen maritime security and cooperation and featured participation from over 60 countries. 

A fleet review is a formal inspection of a navy’s fleet by high-ranking officials. The international fleet review in Karachi, marking the finale of the five-day naval exercise, was attended by senior military and diplomatic officials including Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.

“This international fleet review marks the conclusion of exercise AMAN-25,” Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, Pakistan Navy’s fleet commander, said. “In 2007, we started AMAN exercise series, and this one is the ninth edition of the exercise.”

Munib said 28 countries participated in the first AMAN edition while during last year’s exercise, 50 countries took part. He said in the 2025 edition the number of participating countries swelled to over 60. 

The AMAN exercise is conducted every two years under the “Together for Peace” theme. Over 30 warships, including the Royal Saudi Navy’s HMS Jazan and HMS Hail along with 16 air units took part in the international fleet review. 

The naval exercise began on Feb. 7 and consisted of harbor and sea phases, featuring various drills and operations to enhance interoperability among the naval forces. The last day of the sea phase included aerial operations, replenishment-at-sea exercises, counter-piracy demonstrations, and live-fire exercises followed by a spectacular fly-past.

Captain Humayun Yaqoob, commanding officer of Pakistan Navy ship PNS Moawin, emphasized the strategic importance of the event. 

“The basic purpose of this exercise is ‘Together for Peace’. All these 60 nations, they are here. They are together with us for peace,” Yaqoob said. “It [exercise] is giving a message. It is the confidence of the international community that this exercise is a meaningful platform.”

The AMAN-25 exercise was complimented by the inaugural AMAN Dialogue, held from Feb. 9-10, which brought together naval chiefs, coast guard officials and defense representatives to discuss challenges in the Indian Ocean. Topics included strategic competition, piracy, narco-trafficking, climate change, and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.

Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal underscored the importance of collaboration in the region during the dialogue. 

“The Indian Ocean should not be a rivalry playground but a center of opportunities for all nations,” he said. “Pakistan prefers collaboration over confrontation, and Aman-25 is an example of mutual trust and shared prosperity.”

The Indian Ocean remains a focal point of geopolitical competition, with China expanding its naval presence and the United States strengthening defense ties with India. Pakistan, through AMAN-25, positioned itself as an advocate for cooperative maritime security, engaging regional and global partners to ensure stability in waters crucial for global trade.

The event also included counterterrorism drills at sea, with special forces from various nations conducting visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations, amphibious exercises, and combat search-and-rescue missions.

As the exercise concluded on the last day, participating warships including those from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Sri Lanka, UAE and the US paid a ceremonial mark of respect to the chief guest on PNS Moawin, Pakistan’s army chief.