ISLAMABAD — The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived in Pakistan’s capital late Wednesday with an official delegation for a two-day visit aimed at enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries, as confirmed by officials.

Upon landing at an airport close to Islamabad, Erdogan was welcomed by his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, along with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other high-ranking officials.

This visit comes at the invitation of PM Sharif, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the trip, Erdogan is scheduled to co-chair the 7th Session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), where the two sides are anticipated to finalize and sign several agreements.

On Thursday, Erdogan will engage in bilateral discussions with both Zardari and Sharif. The HLSCC is expected to play a crucial role in providing “strategic direction” towards further strengthening the bonds between Pakistan and Turkey.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the two nations share historic and fraternal ties, and highlighted that Erdogan’s visit is intended to deepen these relationships and expand cooperation across various sectors.

In light of recent increases in militant activity in Pakistan, additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure the safety of the Turkish President and his delegation during their stay.

Notably, this visit coincides with a recent travel advisory issued by the U.S. Embassy, which warned of a potential threat from the Pakistani Taliban targeted at Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. The advisory urged American citizens to refrain from visiting the mosque and its surrounding areas until further notice.