Turkish spy chief meets Pakistan’s top officials

Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin visited Islamabad on Thursday and held meetings with Pakistan’s top political, military and intelligence officials to discuss bilateral relations, regional security and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Kalin’s visit came after his trip to Afghanistan, where he held talks with senior Afghan officials in Kabul and Kandahar. During his stay in Pakistan, he met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to Turkish security sources, the discussions covered the current state of Pakistan-Türkiye relations and ways to expand cooperation between the two countries. The officials also exchanged views on major regional and international developments.

The situation in the Middle East was a key part of the talks. The officials reviewed the security environment following the US-Israel conflict with Iran and discussed its possible political, security and economic consequences for countries across the region.

They also considered the possibility of the conflict expanding to other countries and regions. Recent tensions involving Yemen and Saudi Arabia and their potential impact on regional stability were also discussed.

The officials highlighted the importance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as a platform for cooperation and efforts aimed at promoting regional stability. Türkiye and Pakistan also discussed their respective roles in reducing tensions and maintaining diplomatic channels.

The Turkish side reiterated its willingness to support dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan and said it would continue efforts to help address tensions between the two neighbours through diplomatic engagement.

The two sides also agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the security and intelligence sectors. Türkiye reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and expressed its readiness to assist in enhancing Pakistan’s capacity to combat terrorism.