Pakistan officially refers to TRNC in diplomatic announcement

Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), traveled to Islamabad on November 13, 2026, to attend the 30th Council of Ministers meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Upon his arrival, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement on the social media platform X, referring to Ertugruloglu as the "Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus." The post confirmed that he was greeted at the airport by representatives of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry. This formal recognition of the self-proclaimed state by Pakistan's official diplomatic channels has drawn significant attention due to its geopolitical implications.

Ertugruloglu is expected to engage in bilateral meetings and various diplomatic contacts during his stay in Islamabad. While the visit is focused on the ECO summit, the explicit labeling of his title by Pakistani authorities marks a notable diplomatic development regarding the status of Northern Cyprus on the international stage.