Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his visits to Pakistan in Last decade

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to visit Pakistan on Feb 13, both countries share a long history of bilateral relationships.

Pakistan and Turkey have a long history of bilateral relationships, in the last ten years – the long term Turkish leader has visited Pakistan six times and this one is his seventh trip.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has declared that the trip of the Turkish president is going to be historic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will also address the joint session of the Parliament on the second day of his trip.

President Tayyip Erdoğan made his last to Islamabad – Pakistan on February 28, to March 01 for attending the 13^th ECO summit.

The Turkish Chief of state also visited Pakistan on November 16, 2016. It was a one day trip to Islamabad after a FETO coup attempt in Turkey left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Erdogan is accompanied by his wife Emine and a high-level entourage including ministers, senior officials, and members of the Turkish business community.

Then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, along with first lady Kulsoom Nawaz (late) and the then Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif gave him warm welcome. He had several meetings with the civil and military leadership of Pakistan.

In this visit, he also addressed the joint session of the parliament, it was his third address to Pakistan’s Parliament.

“It is an honour to speak to you in this parliament once again. Last time in 2012, I was sitting in the same house with you”, said Turkish President.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made his first trip to Pakistan as a president of Turkey on August 1^st, 2015, while returning from Indonesia.

Before he was President, as a Premier of Turkey he made seven visits to Pakistan in the last ten years (2005-2015).

Erdogan as a Turkish Prime Minister

Erdogan made a two-day visit to Pakistan on December 23 -24, 2013. As the prime minister of Turkey, Erdogan visited Lahore and Islamabad.

In 2012, Then Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani invited Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to a state trip to Pakistan. He paid a two-day visit to Pakistan on 21 – 22 November. During his visit, he addressed the joint session of the parliament of the hosting country. It was his second address to the Parliament of Pakistan.

Erdogan also visited Pakistan on October 12 -13, 2010. He spends time in Islamabad, Karachi, and Muzzafarabad – the capital of Azad Kashmir. It is pertinent to mention that Erdogan is the only Muslim leader – who made several visits to Earth Quake affected Muzaffarabad several times and expressed his deep concerns in restoring the city.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan after Earthquake 2005

Erdogan was the first foreign head of government to visit the affected areas hit by the devastating earthquake in October 2005.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among the fewer Muslim leaders who frequently visited Pakistan after 2008. These were the days Pakistan was considered as one of the dangerous countries in the world due to an ongoing war in the Northwestern areas of Pakistan.

In 2009, then-President Asif Ali Zardari awarded Nishan-e-Pakistan him in recognition of his visionary leadership and outstanding contribution to strengthening Pak-Turk relations.

He addressed the joint session of the legislature of Pakistan first time in 2005 when he paid an immediate visit to the country after the earthquake. He also announced a relief package of $150 million for the earthquake-stricken people of Pakistan.

Erdogan made his first visit to Pakistan in 2003 and emphasized to increase the volume of trade between Pakistan and Turkey. He is the only leader in the world who addressed thrice to the joint session of the parliament in Pakistan.