ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey signed on Wednesday a defence agreement under which Pakistan will get 34 T-37 aircraft and spares free of cost from its close friend. The T-37 is a Jet Trainer and Light Attack aircraft.

The agreement was signed by Director General of Pakistan’s Defence Procurement Maj Gen Naveed Ahmed and Turkey’s Chief of Logistics Maj Gen Serdar Gulbas.

A Joint Communique was also signed by Pakistan’s Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Muhammad Alam Khattak and Turkey’s Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen Yasar Guler, says a press release issued here on Wednesday.

During his visit to Turkey, the defence secretary focused on Pakistan’s defence and military capability and its requirements in the current global perspective.

He praised the initiatives of President Recep Tayyip Erodogan for democracy.

He said that Pakistan wanted to translate the exemplary brotherly relations with Turkey into strategic cooperation. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation at regional and multinational forums, including UN, OIC, ECO and D-8.

Expressing his views in the High-Level Military Dialogue Group (HLMDG) on Regional and Global Security, he said Pakistan wanted to expand cooperation from defence industries and training to the level of joint ventures.

He thanked the Turkish defence industry’s support for Pakistan’s naval, air and communication systems.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2015

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