Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran met Pakistan's Ambassador to Ankara Dr. Yousaf Junaid at the Presidential Communications Directorate in Ankara on September 15, 2026. The meeting focused on developing cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan in communications, media and public diplomacy.
The meeting addressed combating disinformation, effectively sharing accurate information and increasing coordination in strategic communications. These issues were considered within the framework of strengthening the two countries' communication capacities aimed at their respective publics and making the flow of information more effective.
The scope of cooperation is expanding
The meeting showed that Türkiye-Pakistan relations are being addressed within a framework that covers media, public diplomacy and strategic communications alongside political and economic issues. Describing Pakistan as a "friendly and brotherly country," Duran said cooperation in communications would be strengthened.
Access to accurate and verified information, combating disinformation, strategic communications and international media relations are among the prominent areas of the Presidential Communications Directorate's communications policies. These areas were also considered among the main elements of bilateral cooperation during the meeting with Pakistan.
Background to the public diplomacy agenda
Burhanettin Duran took office as Presidential Communications Director on July 10, 2025. On January 20, 2026, Duran assessed the strategic importance of communications and the strengthening of public diplomacy efforts at a meeting of the Public Diplomacy Coordination Board.
The January 2026 assessments emphasized that public diplomacy cannot be considered independently of global developments and that communications has become a strategic source of power. The Ankara meeting with Pakistan's Ambassador Junaid is significant in terms of continuing this approach through international diplomatic contacts and bilateral media relations.
The meeting addressed developing cooperation in communications, media, public diplomacy, combating disinformation and strategic communications. No decision was announced on a signed agreement, a joint work schedule or the establishment of a new institutional mechanism as a result of the meeting.
