PM in Turkiye

Strategic relationship burgeoning

Not since the heady days of the Baghdad Pact and CENTO have Pakistan and Turkiye been forced into such close strategic proximity as at present. One result has been that as a follow-up of his visit to Iran for martyred Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was in Ankara for strategic discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Apart from the usual mutual good wishes, the recent US-Israel attack of Iran mat have provoked further discussions, because there are indications that Turkiye may be next. Even before the achievement of its strategic objectives in Iran, Israeli voices, including those of Cabinet ministers, could be heard saying that Turkiye should be next. This search for a new opponent postulates that after the Shia Axis of Resistance assembled by Iran, a Sunni Axis is developing, headed by Turkiye, which Israel and the USA must take apart.

Pakistan is also thrown into this can of worms, and it seems that any attempt it makes to increase cooperation with Turkiye will be seen as evidence of the so-called Axis, while if it pays any attention to this, it will merely distance itself from a friend. Mr Sharif was right to reiterate the need to build up trade to the previously agreed target of $5 billion. Considering that it is presently around $1.3 billion. It is perhaps now time to give this target a deadline, if only an indicative one. There are many cultural and religious affinities between the two countries, which make trade easier, ranging from similar food to sectarian identity (the majority of the citizens of both countries follow the same Sunni school). Now there is a geopolitical pressure driving them together. Turkiye is more deeply committed to the \\\us alliance, being still a member of NATO, and having recognized Israel.

The problem for both countries is that while their cooperation is necessary for the emerging regional security architecture, which is also wanted by the USA, it will also be viewed with suspicion by the Zionists within both Israel and the USA. This suspicion will also be enhanced if the cooperation occurs. Because the cooperation contemplated is very basic, very strategic, and will involve cooperation in defence production, the chances increase of its being seen as a threat in Tel Aviv. However, there is a certain inevitability in Pakistan-Turkiye cooperation, because they are a good fit for one another, and the two governments cannot be stopped.