New Delhi: Inside a closely guarded protection advanced in Islamabad, two delegations met behind closed doorways. Flags of Pakistan and Turkey stood facet by facet. No ceremony. No speeches. However the message was loud.
A serious protection settlement has taken form between the 2 nations. One which entails cutting-edge drones, categorised surveillance knowledge and a quiet alignment of army methods. The deal runs deep. Turkey will ship Pakistan its combat-tested Bayraktar TB2 drones. Alongside them, the extra highly effective Akinci drones. Each constructed for precision, pace and destruction.
The deal is price $900 million. Over 700 explosive drones and superior spy UAVs will transfer from Turkish stockpiles to Pakistani airfields. These drones carry heat-sensing payloads and silent strike know-how. Turkey has additionally promised regular intelligence assist reminiscent of real-time feeds, monitoring grids and satellite tv for pc hyperlinks.
Pakistan will return the favour. Its military will provide trendy tank shells, mortar rounds and battlefield ammunition to Turkey.
The paperwork stays locked away. High officers from either side have known as the settlement “strategic”, “confidential” and “ongoing”.
In latest weeks, Turkey’s international and protection ministers visited Pakistan. Their conferences included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Subject Marshal Normal Asim Munir and heads of Pakistan’s drone programmes. Discussions revolved round strengthening ties, growing weapons exports and syncing army planning.
India’s title got here up greater than as soon as.
Operation Sindoor, India’s covert counter-terror marketing campaign, continues to solid a protracted shadow throughout the area. Officers imagine the drone deal is one in every of a number of strikes aimed toward countering Indian operations close to the western entrance.
Pakistan’s management thanked Turkey instantly. Each Sharif and Munir appreciated what they known as “well timed assist” from Ankara. Behind the formalities, the tone was clear. This partnership goes past commerce. It strikes into shared surveillance, border readiness and regional management.
Turkish corporations have been invited to spend money on Pakistan’s protection trade. Talks are already underway for drone meeting models inside Pakistani territory. Desirous to cement its picture as a world drone energy, Turkey sees South Asia as the following frontier. It has already offered weapons to Bangladesh, Myanmar and different Indian neighbours.
The provision of TB2s and Akinci drones marks a shift. These are the identical UAVs that earned world consideration throughout Russia-Ukraine battlefield operations. They’ve flown in Syria, Libya and Azerbaijan. Now, Pakistan will host them.
The 2 nations have additionally agreed to extend intelligence sharing. No particulars have been made public. However sources say the trade consists of geolocation knowledge and thermal surveillance from disputed zones.
The rising alliance between Ankara and Islamabad additionally touches different regional hotspots, Iran, Gaza and Afghanistan. Conferences held in Islamabad reportedly included dialogue of future coordination throughout these zones.
With the ink barely dry on the deal, each governments at the moment are working to fast-track supply schedules. Pakistan has already allotted airbases for drone testing. Turkish groups are anticipated to reach quickly for on-ground integration.
There have been no army parades. No press briefings. However inside South Asia’s protection circles, the information is loud. A brand new axis is taking form and its eyes are pointed east.