Turkey and Pakistan discuss defence industry and energy cooperation

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ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey’s foreign and defence ministers discussed cooperation in defence and energy with officials in Pakistan during a visit to Islamabad on Wednesday, Ankara said.

Turkey and Pakistan have strong ties and Ankara expressed solidarity with Pakistan during the military conflict with India in May, angering India.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Air Force chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and others during the visit.

In a statement after the talks, Turkey’s defence ministry said Guler and Sidhu discussed regional defence and security, as well as areas of cooperation in the defence industry, and added Sidhu had conveyed Pakistan’s desire to improve ties in advanced training operations and aviation technologies.

Guler also stressed the importance of joint projects in the defence industry, including on aviation and drones, it added.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Fidan said the two countries were evaluating the possibility of cooperating in mining, natural gas, oil, and rare elements, after agreeing in April to jointly carry out oil and gas exploration off Pakistan.

Ankara also has cordial ties with India, but after its support for Pakistan over the conflict, small Indian grocery shops and major online fashion retailers boycotted Turkish products, while New Delhi also cancelled Turkey-based aviation service provider Celebi’s clearance over “national security” reasons.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu;Editing by Alison Williams)