What is remarkable and for me of enourmous satisfaction is the ever increasing soft power of Turkey that really is displacing Saudi, American and Indian influences. Series like Ertugrul are priming a entire generation of Pakistani's to Turkophiles. I increasing see the Ertrugul hats and that Y shaped insignia of the Turks being displayed by Pakistani's.
Why as a British-Pak am I excited about this? Because this will help to evolve Pakistani society more toward a Turkish type that is at ease with west and east. All this offers enormous opportunities. I know some of my Turkish brothers will be searching for benefits as of today. But think of this as long term. As we move forward Turkey will have a huge market on the other side of the Iranian plateu and with peace reuturning to Afghanistan we will have highways and rail lines extending east to Azerbaijan and Turkey carry huge trade potential. I think Turkish companies see the emerging opportunities. From consumer good, to Coco Cola [Coco Cola Pakistan is a subsidiary company of Turkish Coco Cola], to construction products Turkish companies are moving in.
Turkish actors in Pakistan.
Interesting perspectives.
I'm more interested in hearing pragmatic examples of cooperation rather than platitudes often served for diplomatic purposes.
Coca Cola is an American company. That aside, I am eager to know if there have been any collaboration between individuals, companies, government or privately owned institutions between the two countries in any significant manner.
As an example, have the two countries (Turkey and Pakistan) managed to sign a mutual defence treaty? The treaty of mutual defence could strengthen both countries' geopolitical leverage against adversaries and geopolitical competitors.
Fighting, or challenging, Turkey alone is much easier than fighting, or challenging, Turkey and Pakistan simultaneously.
Fighting, or challenging, Pakistan alone is much easier than fighting, or challenging, Turkey and Pakistan simultaneously.
This line of thought can be further extended to other friendly/brotherly countries such as Azerbaijan. In due time, such an alliance can be expanded in scope and scale if this hypothetical alliance turns out to be a fruitful venture.
What exactly is preventing such an alliance?
Why are the peoples and the leaderships of the two great countries so afraid of external powers to ratify such a treaty?
Apart from cooperation in the defence sector, other areas of collaboration can include cultural exchanges. A good example is the Ertugrul drama series, as you have pointed out.
Other areas could include increased trade, tourism,
investment and scientific and technological collaborations.
Turkish institutes could offer 22,000 scholarships a year to interested Pakistani students for their education and offer employment opportunities in high technology, knowledge intensive sectors.
By expanding the area in which the net is cast, they can attract a much greater number of engineers, researchers, scientists to their shore which can help them complete much needed development of advanced technologies in several fields.
Many talented Pakistanis can also benefit by getting paid for doing what they love and for a people they usually love. If there are Pakistanis who do not like Turkey, rare as they may be, they need not apply for such scholarships.
Likewise, Turkish investors can invest in more labour intensive industries in Pakistan, help in improving tourism, financial, retail, hospitality, airline, shipping and logistics sectors.
Medium technology sectors such as automobiles or chemicals sectors can be focused on at a later stage, if Pakistan develops into a more sophisticated economy with a more sophisticated base of workers, engineers and researchers.
Win-win deal for both Turkey and Pakistan.
Turkey gets to accelerate its transition to a high income, high tech country.
Pakistan gets to accelerate its transition to a medium income, medium tech country.
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