Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul over the weekend, marking a significant diplomatic engagement weeks after a violent flare-up between India and Pakistan.

According to a statement from the Turkish presidency on Sunday, both leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in key areas including defence, energy, transport, and intelligence sharing. 

Erdogan underscored the importance of increased collaboration in education and technology, especially in the fight against terrorism.

The high-level meeting came in the wake of recent tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi, sparked by Indian airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. 

India claimed the operation was a response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people including tourists. 

New Delhi has accused Pakistan of providing indirect support to the attackers—an allegation Islamabad has denied.

President Erdogan had earlier voiced solidarity with Pakistan and called for restraint from both nuclear-armed nations. 

He warned of the risk of “all-out war” and backed Pakistan’s call for an international investigation into the Pahalgam incident. A ceasefire between India and Pakistan was reached on May 10.

Turkey has denied Indian allegations that it supplied weapons to Pakistan during the conflict, but the diplomatic rift between Ankara and New Delhi has grown. 

India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a pointed statement last week, urging Turkey to pressure Pakistan into dismantling its “terror ecosystem.”

Public backlash followed. Indian retailers and travel agencies began boycotting Turkish goods and tourism. 

Leading e-commerce platforms removed Turkish brands, and the aviation ministry revoked security clearance for Turkey-based ground handler Celebi.

While India imports $2.7 billion in goods from Turkey annually—mainly fuels and precious metals—the broader impact on trade remains uncertain as relations continue to deteriorate.

Source: Al Jazeera

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