Turkey shatters Asim Munir's dream of Islamic NATO, Erdogan highlights weaknesses of Pakistan Army

Istanbul: Turkey, a close friend of Pakistan, has dealt a major blow to the Shehbaz Sharif government. Ankara has made it clear that it will not participate in any multilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Pakistan recently signed a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. At the time, it was said that countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan were likely to join soon. However, Turkey has now clarified that the ongoing discussions with these two countries are limited to strategic and bilateral cooperation.

According to media reports, Turkish defense officials clarified that the Erdogan government is neither a part of any defense agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia nor is it considering one. Turkey's current relations with these two countries are for strategic purposes. According to a top Turkish military source, despite Pakistan's insistence, Turkey is not interested in any multilateral mutual defense agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The source stated that Saudi Arabia is also not in favor of any multilateral arrangement and only prioritizes bilateral defense agreements.

What did Turkey say about the Pakistan Army?

Turkey also expressed its concern regarding the Pakistan Army, which is facing a situation akin to a civil war on three fronts. Turkish security sources pointed to Pakistan's limited military resources, stating that Pakistan is already active on three borders: India, Afghanistan, and Iran. Furthermore, it is also facing domestic challenges. The recent deal with Saudi Arabia has further divided the Pakistani army. All of this has affected the Pakistani army's capabilities. A senior Turkish defense official said, "Pakistan's security forces are already under immense pressure," and this reality limits its ability to fulfill responsibilities under any mutual defense agreement. A strong economy is the foundation of a strong military.

What did Erdogan say about Pakistan's economy?

Turkish officials also pointed to Pakistan's economic situation. They stated that a strong economy is essential for a strong military. Turkey is also facing financial pressures. According to sources, neither country's military has the capacity to invest in defense modernization at the level of Saudi Arabia, making a trilateral defense alliance seem impractical. However, while ruling out the possibility of a defense pact, Turkey emphasized that its defense relations with Pakistan are strong. Ankara is already providing Pakistan with military equipment, air defense systems, drone technology, and other equipment. The two countries are pursuing several shared objectives through strategic cooperation.