ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Monday assured his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, of unflinching support in the face of daunting challenges, and condoled the recent twin blasts in the Turkish capital that killed over a hundred people attending a peace rally.

On a three-day visit to Turkey beginning Monday, General Raheel visited the headquarters of the Turkish Land Forces, where he met the Turkish army chief and discussed "enhanced cooperation" on the future direction of counter terrorism, DG ISPR Asim Bajwa said in a series of tweets on Twitter.

The army chief told his Turkish counterpart that he understood "the enormity of their challenges" and "stood by them".

Upon his arrival, the army chief was presented a guard of honor by the Turkish Land Forces.

General Raheel also laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Kamal Ata Turk at Ankara during his visit.

He expressed hopes of "surmounting challenges with a common and coherent approach," adding that the relationship between the two countries was "time-tested and eternal".

The COAS was also awarded the Turkish Legion of Merit for his services in establishing regional peace and courageously handling terrorism with clarity in direction.