ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.

During a phone call, Erdogan stated that the ancient friendship and strong solidarity between Türkiye and Pakistan have been strengthened with the steps taken, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said on X.

Erdogan congratulated Sharif on Eid al-Adha. Erdogan visited Pakistan in February.

For his part, Sharif paid a visit to Türkiye in May, during which he and Erdogan discussed bilateral relations and further cooperation.

Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif wrote on X that he and Erdogan agreed to expedite the implementation of important decisions reached during recent meetings to improve collaboration, particularly in trade and investment.

He also stated that they discussed regional and global issues, including the critical situation in Gaza, and reiterated their strong mutual support for fundamental national interests.