Erdogan, Sharif discuss boosting cooperation in def, intel-sharing

ISTANBUT: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul on Sunday and said the two countries would strive to boost cooperation, particularly in defence, energy and transportation, Erdogan's office said.Turkiye has strong ties with Pakistan, both being largely Muslim countries and sharing historical links, and expressed solidarity with it during its recent clashes with India. Erdogan's office said he told Sharif it was in the interest of Turkiye and Pakistan to increase solidarity in education, intelligence sharing and technological support in the fight against terrorism. Turkiye's foreign minister Hakan Fidan, defence minister Yasar Guler and intelligence agency chief Ibrahim Kalin also attended the meeting. Earlier in May, Erdogan expressed solidarity with Pakistan after India conducted military strikes in response to April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26, mostly tourists, in J&K. (This is a Reuters story)