- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 26 May 2025 07:56 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a high-level diplomatic interaction amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir in Istanbul. This is the first high-level interaction between the two nations after India's Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack.
The meeting, which included Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, centered on enhancing cooperation in defence, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, energy, and transportation sectors.“We have further strengthened the unbreakable ties, cooperation, solidarity, and brotherhood between our countries and peoples,” President Erdogan said in a statement, reaffirming Turkey’s unwavering support for Pakistan.
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Sharif's visit to Istanbul is part of a four-country, six-day regional tour, with Azerbaijan, Iran, and Tajikistan, nations that have expressed similar sympathies with Pakistan during the standoff with India. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to X (formerly Twitter) to thank Erdogan for his “resolute support” during Pakistan’s recent confrontation with India. The PM also acknowledged Ankara’s assistance during what he described as “a critical juncture.” “Had the honor of meeting my dear brother President Recep Tayyip Erdogan… Thanked him for his resolute support to Pakistan in the recent Pakistan-India standoff,” Sharif wrote. He said both leaders discussed progress in multilateral and bilateral interactions, especially trade, investment, and strategic collaboration. This is the first formal meeting between the two leaders since April 22—the date of the Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-held Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. The attack led to a four-day military response by India under Operation Sindoor May 7-10, hitting so-called terror infrastructure targets in Pakistan.
Turkey Supports Pakistan Despite Previous Indian Assistance
Following Operation Sindoor, Ankara's attitude has put a strain on its relations with New Delhi. Regardless of India's courtesy to Turkey during the 2023 earthquakes under 'Operation Dost', Erdogan openly supported Islamabad's version against India. Turkey not only denounced the Indian attacks but also provided drones to Pakistan, which have been used to attack Indian cities and military targets in recent tensions, according to reports. Turkish authorities have accused India of attacking civilians, charges that New Delhi strongly rejected. The action resulted in increasing demands for boycotts of Turkish goods in India, with online sites as well as retail stores backing away from Turkish imports.
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Pakistan is trying to build regional support and strengthen defense alliances in the face of international criticism over managing terror groups and growing economic turmoil. Erdogan-Sharif meeting might signal a possible shift in geopolitical allegiances in South Asia. While Turkey has friendly diplomatic relationships with India, its public backing of Pakistan could be an indicator of Ankara's shift towards strategic interaction with Islamabad on military and intelligence dimensions. In the meantime, India has been said to have reevaluated its diplomatic approach towards Turkey, with possible economic and defense consequences looming.