PAK TURK Institute

31/08/2026

🇹🇷🇵🇰🇸🇦 Turkish FM Hakan Fidan on expanding the Mecca alliance:

“We are working on it, and I want to emphasize that the alliance was established with expansion in mind. However, its foundations must be laid carefully, and it needs to be properly institutionalized first.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are all equally serious about this. We are building a strong, institutionalized alliance capable of addressing regional challenges and bringing real stability, peace, and prosperity. We fully agree on expanding this alliance.”

31/08/2026

🇹🇷 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issued a blistering condemnation on Tuesday, directly accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of genocide.

31/08/2026

"Mecca Defense Alliance' was established with aim of expanding" Hakan Fidan

31/08/2026

Turkiye’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, met with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, in İstanbul ahead of the first meeting between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye following the signing of the Mecca Agreement.

30/08/2026

MAJOR DEFENSE SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL!

This Monday, Istanbul is set to host the first-ever meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee under the Mecca Joint Defense Pact.

Expect high-level talks as top officials from three major powers arrive:

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: FM Faisal bin Farhan, Def. Min. Khalid bin Salman & Chief of Staff Gen. Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili

🇹🇷 Turkey: FM Hakan Fidan, Def. Min. Yaşar Güler & Chief of Gen. Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu

🇵🇰 Pakistan: FM Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Def. Min. Khawaja Asif & Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

Construction has officially begun on Istanbul’s long-awaited Kadıköy Waterfront Mosque! 🏗️🕌 After 10+ years of planning, the 30,000 sqm project will feature a massive central dome, two towering minarets, and space for 7,000 worshippers. More than just a mosque, the sustainable complex will include a library, art workshops, and a soup kitchen.

30/08/2026

🛫 Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) has been named Europe's fastest-growing major airport in H1 2026 by ACI Europe.

Among hubs handling over 40 million passengers, SAW saw a 6.4% year-over-year increase in traffic—significantly outpacing both the European (2.6%) and Turkish national (2.8%) averages.

Barcelona and Madrid followed in the growth rankings, while London Heathrow retained its title as Europe's busiest airport, closely trailed by Istanbul Airport (IST).

A strong first half for Turkish aviation!

29/08/2026

Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı), is a public holiday in Turkey that commemorates the decisive victory at the Battle of Dumlupınar on August 30, 1922.

The festival celebrates the decisive victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, the final battle of the Greco-Turkish War, on August 30, 1922. Following the fight, Greece's military participation in Anatolia came to an end. Victory Day has been an official holiday since 1926, with the inaugural celebration on August 30, 1923.

29/08/2026

Great news for Turkish higher education! 🇹🇷🎓

The 2025-2026 URAP rankings are out, and 13 Turkish universities have secured spots in the world's top 1,000.

🏆 Hacettepe University leads the way as Turkey's highest-ranked institution (Global 585).

Rounding out Turkey's top 5:
2️⃣ Istanbul Technical University (710)
3️⃣ Ankara University (748)
4️⃣ Gazi University (824)
5️⃣ Koç University (832)

Impressively, a total of 128 Turkish universities made the global top 3,000 list. A strong showing for academic performance in the region!