T urkey has been striving to expand its influence with a special interest in the Asia-Pacific Region, Pakistan a main strategic partner of Turkey is located in this particular area of Turkish growing clout. Erdogan’s ruling party also has ambitions in influencing the Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia but experts believe that the recent bilateral efforts to strengthen relations between Turkey and Pakistan are related to the nuclear interests of Turkey. In particular, is Turkey’s interest in the transfer of nuclear and missile technologies.

Turkey’s new goal of conquering new foreign arms markets has had its plan to develop international cooperation with military industry in Asian countries. In recent years, Turkey has become the second largest country after China in terms of arms supplies to Pakistan.

Over the last 26 years, Turkish military-industrial company Aselsan exported more than $1 bil. worth of equipment to Pakistan. Another Turkish military-industrial company, TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries), engaged in the development of aerospace systems, modernization and production of helicopters and signed a $1,5 bil. agreement to sell 30 T129 Helos to Pakistan in 2018. However, the deal failed, as TAI was unable to acquire the US export licenses.

Meanwhile, Islamabad and Ankara also have joint naval projects, in 2018, the Pakistani Navy and the Turkish ASFAT A.Ş. military-industrial companies signed a contract for the construction of four MILGEM (Ada) class vessels. Moreover, the Turkish side stated that this deal is “the largest defense export of Turkey in one agreement”. The contract entails the construction of two corvettes in Turkey and another two in Pakistan. The contract also included the transfer of technologies. 

A high-level meeting between Turkish and Pakistani military took place in December, last year. According to “Zee News”, Erdogan has personally requested from the Pakistani Army Chief General Bajwa for the sharing of nuclear weapon technology and it is believed that Pakistan has reportedly agreed. According to the same source, Pakistan is also transferring missile technologies to Turkey and Pakistani scientists are helping Turkey to develop the field of missile construction.

In order to present its own defense industry to world markets, Turkey held the 6^th Defense Port Turkey virtual exhibition in October 2020, attended by more than 80 military delegations from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Turkish side intends to hit $5 bil. of defense industry exports to those three countries over the next decade.

Besides selling arms to Pakistan, a country in constant conflict with India, Turkey pursues a policy of “soft power” to expand its influence through the opening Turkish schools and co-producing films. After the signing of the trilateral agreement (Islamabad Declaration) between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan on January 13, 2021, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu stated that they would deepen ties with Pakistan in the field of military.

Pakistan and Turkey also signed an agreement for the promotion of literacy, according to which Turkey gets an opportunity to open and run cultural, educational and language centers and student exchange programs in Pakistan. Turkish Pak-Turk Maarif foundation plans to increase the number of new schools in Pakistan, as well as to open a university.

Currently, the foundation has schools in more than 10 cities in Pakistan, with about 12 thous. pupils. In 2016, the authorities of Pakistan found Gulenists among Turkish school teachers, and were expelled from the country. This was highly praised by Erdogan. Turkish historical TV series have also gained popularity in Pakistan. This year, Turkey and Pakistan are planning to co-produce a historical TV series named “Türk Lala”.

According to experts, rapprochement with Turkey is of great importance for Pakistan, since it gains a strategic partner and an arms supplier. Ankara, in turn, besides selling weapons, is deepening cooperation with a country who possesses nuclear weapon technology. Nevertheless, there are opinions that along with the steps taken to expand its influence in Pakistan and South Asian countries, Turkey should take into account military, political and economic interests with other powers in this region, such as Russia, China and India.