Turkish intelligence chief visits Pakistan, discusses regional security and bilateral cooperation

Türkiye's National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) Chief Ibrahim Kalin recently visited Pakistan to discuss regional security and bilateral cooperation. This comes after his trip to Afghanistan. During his time in Pakistan, Kalin held talks with senior officials, including the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, as well as the Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Asim Malik. He was also received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The discussions centered around the current state of Türkiye-Pakistan relations and opportunities for further cooperation. The officials also deliberated on the security landscape in the Middle East, following the start of the US-Israel war with Iran and the rising regional tensions. They assessed the potential risks of conflicts spreading to other countries and regions.

Recent tensions between Yemen and Saudi Arabia were among the issues discussed, highlighting their impact on regional stability. The officials emphasized the importance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in providing common ground among the parties, aiming to restore regional stability.

Both Türkiye and Pakistan were praised for their roles in reducing tensions and keeping diplomatic channels open. Türkiye reiterated its commitment to helping resolve tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan through dialogue, a stance it has maintained in the past. The two sides agreed to strengthen their existing high-level cooperation in security and intelligence fields.

Furthermore, Türkiye expressed its continued support for Pakistan's fight against terrorism, underscoring its dedication to strengthening the country's counterterrorism capacity. Kalin's visit to Pakistan followed his talks in Kabul and Kandahar with senior Afghan officials.