India boycott Turkey: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to hold high-level talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul on Sunday, according to a statement by Erdogan’s communications chief Fahrettin Altun. The leaders will discuss bilateral relations, regional security, and the fight against terrorism, reports Reuters.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of heightened diplomatic tensions following India’s boycott of Turkish goods and services after Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terror mission. Turkey was the only West Asian nation to openly criticise the operation and back Pakistan, deepening the fault lines between Ankara and New Delhi.
Turkey-Pakistan military ties
The Turkish-Pakistani defence relationship has also drawn attention. A Turkish Ada-class anti-submarine corvette docked at Karachi port on May 2, while a Turkish C-130 Hercules military aircraft landed in Karachi on April 27, reportedly carrying military supplies. Turkey insists these were routine deployments and denied transporting arms, yet reports confirm the use of Turkish-made Songar drones by Pakistan during the conflict with India.
Turkey and Pakistan share deep-rooted historical and ideological connections. Their partnership, grounded in a shared Islamic identity, dates back to the Cold War era.
Since Erdogan’s rise to power in 2003, the relationship has grown even closer, shaped by shared views on political Islam and opposition to secular Arab regimes. Erdogan has visited Pakistan over 10 times, most recently co-chairing the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in February 2025.
West Asian power politics
Geopolitically, Turkey is positioning itself as a counterweight to Saudi and Emirati dominance in the Muslim world. In doing so, Ankara has cultivated closer ties with non-Gulf nations such as Pakistan and Malaysia. The strengthening of the Turkey-Pakistan axis serves both nations strategically—Pakistan gains a robust ally in West Asia, while Turkey deepens its influence in South Asia and beyond.
(With inputs from agencies)