ISLAMABAD: Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of Pakistan, was honored with the Legion of Merit of the Turkish Armed Forces, Turkiye’s highest military distinction, for his significant contributions to strengthening defense and maritime cooperation between the two nations.
The prestigious award was presented by Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu, the Commander of the Turkish Navy, during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Turkish Naval Forces.
The Pakistan Navy highlighted Admiral Ashraf’s pivotal role in fostering stronger ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, particularly in the maritime and defense sectors. This collaboration has included joint military exercises, personnel exchanges, and shared efforts to enhance regional security.
During his official visit, Admiral Ashraf met with senior Turkish defense officials, including Defence Minister Yasar Güler, Chief of General Staff Metin Gurak, and Admiral Kadir Yildiz, Commander of the Turkish Navy Fleet. Discussions centered on deepening bilateral defense cooperation, with a focus on enhancing joint training programs, collaborative defense initiatives, and addressing regional maritime security challenges.
Admiral Ashraf also visited the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, where he was briefed on the ongoing Milgem project. Pakistan and Turkiye signed an agreement in 2018 for the construction of four Milgem-class corvettes. Under this agreement, two ships are being built in Turkiye’s Istanbul Naval Shipyard, while the remaining two are being constructed at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.
Further strengthening defense ties, Admiral Ashraf toured several Turkish naval ships, including TCG Oruçreis, S/M PIRIREIS, and NDU, and observed submarine construction at the Golchuk Naval Base.
In a tribute to Turkiye’s founding leader, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Admiral Ashraf laid a wreath at his mausoleum, honoring his legacy.
Earlier in July, a high-level delegation from Turkiye, led by Defence Minister Yasar Güler, visited Pakistan. During the visit, both sides agreed to establish joint working groups to expedite cooperation in various sectors of mutual interest, including defense and military technology.
The TTP never intended to take over Pakistan, even though they easily could/can.
They established themselves in Dec 2007 and they did what they did for the sole purpose of causing fitna.
This is why Baitullah Mehsud and Hakimullah Mehsud died like dogs instead of as martyrs.
In 2009, the TTP had taken over 80% of Swat and they were on their way to reaching Islamabad, but instead of keeping the momentum going, they agreed to a very counter-productive ceasefire with Pakistan where in exchange for Pakistan recognizing the territories they control and allowing them to govern those areas according to Sharia law, the TTP would halt their advance.
The TTP gave those territories away to Pakistan under the excuse that the Pakistani army launched a surprise offensive against them which they did not expect and because their militants were walking the streets unarmed instead of being armed in the jungles and mountains.
When the 2011 Mumbai attacks happened, and India threatened to respond to Pakistan, Hakimullah Mehsud warned India not to do that, saying if war erupted between India and Pakistan, the TTP would fight alongside Pakistan against India because Pakistanis are Muslim while India is kafir/Hindu.
The TTP should have been / should be quickly dealt with by killing every single Mehsud man, woman, and child.