ANKARA, 4 May 2017: A 27-member delegation of National Defence University (NDU) of Pakistan, headed by Major General Ghulam Qamar, is currently visiting Turkey as part of its Foreign Study Tour. Members of the delegation include participants of National Security and War Course, drawn from the Pakistan armed forces and civil services as well as officers from friendly countries.
During its stay in Ankara, the NDU delegation visited the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its affiliated think-tank, Centre for Strategic Centre (SAM), and interacted with Senior Diplomats, academicians and researchers dealing with South Asia. After a detailed briefing on Turkish foreign policy, the Pakistan delegation in the interactive session, exchanged views on regional and global situation with the Turkish participants. The delegation also visited NATO-affiliated Centre of Excellence for Defence Against Terrorism as well as some defence industry establishments.
During the delegation’s visit to the Pakistan Embassy, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood briefed the group on growing cooperation in the multi-faceted Pakistan-Turkey relationship. He emphasized that efforts were underway to transform the excellent brotherly ties into a strong partnership, with a major focus on enhanced trade and economic relationship. He informed that a comprehensive Pakistan-Turkey Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was in the final stages of its conclusion. He also briefed about the ongoing and future projects in the defence industry field.
While in Istanbul, the NDU delegation would be visiting the Turkish National Defence University. The members would also have interaction with scholars at Turkey’s renowned think-tank, Wise Men Centre for Strategic Studies (BILGESAM).
NDU is one of Pakistan’s premier training institutions. It is renowned as a center of excellence in academic and research pursuits, providing policy inputs on national security at strategic level and acting as a national think-tank.