Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf has been honoured with the prestigious “Legion of Merit of the Turkish Armed Forces,” Turkiye’s highest military award, in a formal ceremony held in Istanbul. The award is a recognition of his outstanding contributions to enhancing defence relations and military cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye.
Upon his arrival at the Turkish Naval Forces Headquarters, Admiral Naveed Ashraf was accorded a warm welcome and presented with a guard of honour. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the naval chief’s visit underlines the longstanding strategic and defence ties between the two brotherly nations.
During his visit, Admiral Ashraf held a high-level meeting with the Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces. The two naval leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions on bolstering bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on maritime security, joint naval exercises, training, and defence collaboration. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional security and ensuring maritime peace in the broader region.
The naval chief also met with key Turkish defence leadership, including the Turkish Minister of Defence, the Chief of General Staff, and the Commander of the Turkish Naval Fleet. These meetings served to review and expand areas of mutual strategic interest and highlighted the importance of continued engagement through high-level visits and collaborative initiatives.
In addition to official meetings, Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited significant military and naval installations. He toured the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, where he reviewed the progress of the ongoing Milgem corvette project being undertaken for the Pakistan Navy. He also inspected the submarine construction capabilities at the Gölcük Naval Base, showcasing Pakistan’s interest in further enhancing its undersea warfare potential.
As a mark of respect, Admiral Ashraf visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkiye, and laid a floral wreath. He also visited a Turkish naval vessel and other key installations, further strengthening the spirit of cooperation between the two countries.
The conferral of the Legion of Merit not only symbolises Turkiye’s recognition of Admiral Ashraf’s personal contributions but also reflects the growing strategic and defence collaboration between Islamabad and Ankara.
