A special Turkish military band, Mehter, performed Turkish and Pakistani songs here at the Turkish embassy on Wednesday at a special ceremony held to showcase the world’s oldest military band for members of the diplomatic corps.
The band arrived in the country on the eve of Pakistan Day to participate in the military parade being conducted in celebration of the country’s national day.
National Security Advisor Lt Gen (r) Nasser Janjau was the chief guest while former chairman of the joint chiefs of staffs committee Gen (r) Ihsanul Haq, former foreign minister Gauhar Ayyub Khan, diplomats, bureaucrats, politicians, and journalists also attended.
Turkish Ambassador Sadik Babur Girgin left everyone amazed, addressing the gathering in Urdu and informing them that Mehter was the world’s oldest military band, dating back to the eighth century. The band reflects the glory of the Ottoman Empire and its military successes, he said.
The commander of the band unsheathed his sword to mark the start of the performance, and other band members followed by unsheathing their own and putting them on their shoulders. Carrying the flags of Turkey and Pakistan, the soldiers in red, black, and green used seven groups of instruments to perform Turkish and Pakistani songs, including Jeeway Pakistan and Dil Dil Pakistan.
The music of the Mehter is largely ceremonial and considered by many Turks as a stirring example of heroism and a reminder of Turkey’s glorious past. The Armed Forces Mehter Unit is the traditional band of the Turkish Armed Forces and performs regularly at the Military Museum in Istanbul as well as during certain state ceremonies.
