Pakistan PM Sharif celebrates Turkish Republic Day in Islamabad

On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held an official ceremony in Islamabad and released a touching video showing Pakistan’s most iconic landmarks illuminated in the colors of Türkiye’s flag. The sequence visually echoed his message: “Our hearts beat with our Turkish brothers and sisters,” he declared.A speech of friendship and mutual support

In his address, the Prime Minister praised Türkiye’s path of progress and prosperity, describing his “dear brother” ­Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as “a beacon of progress, development, and resilience not only in Türkiye but across the world,” and as someone who embodies modernity combined with Turkish heritage.

He reminded the audience that “our ties with Türkiye go back long before 1947,” and that even then, their forefathers could not have imagined that the newly founded Turkish state would become such a steadfast supporter of Pakistan:

“Türkiye has stood by us through wars, earthquakes, and devastating floods.”

“In the recent war between Pakistan and India, Türkiye stood by our side like a rock — that is true brotherhood.”

He added: “Today, Türkiye and Pakistan are entering a new phase of economic, strategic, and defense cooperation. We have agreed that whatever Türkiye has is for Pakistan, and whatever Pakistan has is for our Turkish brothers.”

Recalling the natural disasters — the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods — he emphasized that Türkiye built villages, schools, and hospitals in Pakistan, embodying what he called “the sincerity of brotherhood.” He also praised Türkiye’s support for the Palestinian people, the Kashmir cause, and added, “we also support the cause of Northern Cyprus.” He concluded: “Pakistan, Türkiye, our friend — long live eternal brotherhood.”

Context: a deep and growing alliance

The Prime Minister’s message comes amid increasingly close ties between Islamabad and Ankara:

Official diplomatic relations date back to Pakistan’s independence in 1947, but the historical roots go much further.

Economically and militarily, Türkiye and Pakistan have strengthened their cooperation — from modernizing military equipment to jointly developing strategic sectors.

The Prime Minister’s remarks reflect this shared narrative of mutual support during crises and shared values rooted in Islam and the broader Turko-Pakistani civilization.

Critical analysis

The ceremony — and especially the video showcasing Pakistani monuments lit up in Turkish colors — was a highly symbolic gesture serving several purposes:

Diplomatic: to publicly and visually reaffirm the “fraternal friendship” between the two nations at a time when Türkiye plays an increasingly influential role on the global stage.

Domestic politics: to reinforce Pakistan’s image as a government active on the international scene and allied with modern Muslim powers.

Media strategy: to evoke emotion through powerful visuals — iconic landmarks, the Turkish flag raised in Pakistan — constructing a visual narrative of fraternity.

Critique: while such symbolic communication is visually effective, it may also be seen as using friendship imagery to mask deeper differences (for example, in economic or strategic priorities). The speech’s highly rhythmic tone emphasizes Türkiye as a “model of modernity,” which can sound admiring but also raises questions about equality within the partnership.

Toward a stronger partnership

Through such statements and visual gestures, Pakistan and Türkiye appear to be moving toward a more formalized alliance. The Prime Minister mentioned the beginning of “economic, strategic, and defense cooperation.” Indeed, reports indicate that trade between the two countries is growing, with ambitions to increase the volume to several billion dollars.

Historic and fraternal ties bind Pakistan and Türkiye

For his part, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ankara, Yusuf Cüneyd, gave an exclusive statement to Nouvelle Aube, highlighting the depth of fraternal bonds between the two nations.

He stated:

“On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our Turkish brothers and sisters on the 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.”

The ambassador noted that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s participation in the ceremony — symbolically cutting the commemorative cake — “reflects the warmth, respect, and enduring friendship that unite Pakistan and Türkiye.”

Reklam yükleniyor...

Reklam yükleniyor...

Yusuf Cüneyd recalled that “our two nations share a bond founded on faith, culture, and mutual trust — a partnership that continues to grow stronger with each passing year.” He emphasized the shared commitment of both countries “to continue and deepen this brotherhood by expanding cooperation in all fields — from the economy to defense, from culture to education.”

He concluded his message with a symbolic phrase in Turkish:

“Yaşasın Pakistan–Türkiye dostluğu!” (Long live the friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye!)

— reminding that this alliance, nourished by shared history and vision, remains a pillar of solidarity within the Muslim world.