In April 2025, as Pakistan and India entered their most intense military confrontation in nearly three decades following the deadly April 22 attack in Indian Occupied Kashmir, Türkiye moved swiftly to reaffirm its strategic alignment with Pakistan. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a direct call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and dispatched the TCG BÜYÜKADA to Karachi in a visible show of solidarity.
This naval gesture followed the 7th Pakistan–Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting held earlier in February, where both sides formalized 24 cooperation agreements spanning defense, trade, education, and energy, with the shared aim of scaling bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2027.
Türkiye’s timely diplomatic and symbolic actions during the crisis highlighted its growing interest in supporting Pakistan on the regional stage, while widespread online campaigns such as #StandWithPakistan and #TürkiyeWithPakistan reflected a strong current of popular support accompanying official policy.
After Pakistan’s independence on 14 August 1947, Türkiye was among the first countries to recognize the new state, establishing formal diplomatic relations on the same day. However, the roots of this relationship go deeper, shaped by the earlier solidarity between Muslims of the subcontinent and the Turkish people during the Khilafat Movement (1919–1924).
That historical connection, built on shared sentiment and political empathy, set the tone for the enduring people-to-people ties that followed. Over the decades, cultural and educational exchanges have flourished: thousands of Pakistani students attend Turkish universities under scholarship programs, while joint festivals celebrate shared Sufi traditions, language affinities, and artistic collaborations.
Ankara and Islamabad also coordinate closely within multilateral fora such as the OIC, D‑8, and ECO, advocating common positions on counter‑terrorism, refugee welfare, and development. Furthermore, Trade and investment ties have expanded steadily, with bilateral commerce rising by over 8% year‑on‑year in early 2025. Both governments aim to elevate annual trade to $5 billion by 2027, supported by Turkish investments in Pakistan’s energy, infrastructure, and textile sectors.
Moreover, defense cooperation occupies a central place in the partnership. Since 2009, the Pakistan–Türkiye high‑level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) has met regularly; its 7th session on 13 February 2025 produced 24 memoranda covering defense technology transfer, joint R&D, and maritime security.
Key initiatives include the co‑production of unmanned aerial vehicles, licensed manufacture of Turkish radar and electronic warfare systems in Pakistani facilities, and expanded officer training programs at Turkish military academies. This deeply institutionalized relationship, rooted in historical solidarity, reinforced through cultural exchange, and driven by shared strategic interests, provides the backdrop against which Türkiye’s recent diplomatic and naval support to Pakistan amid the April 2025 crisis unfolded.
Türkiye’s Diplomatic Overtures
Erdogan-Sharif Call
On May 7, 2025, Turkish President Erdoğan telephoned Prime Minister Sharif to convey Ankara’s solidarity with Pakistan, praising Islamabad’s “calm and restrained policies” amid the crisis and endorsing calls for an independent inquiry into the militant attack that triggered the conflict. This direct outreach was echoed by the Turkish Communications Directorate, which highlighted Erdoğan’s condolences for the victims and reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Mediation Offers and Regional Stability
Beyond expressions of solidarity, Erdoğan offered Ankara’s services to facilitate de-escalation through diplomatic channels, a gesture reported by Anadolu Agency on May 8, 2025. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan further underscored Turkey’s willingness to assist in any peace-building initiative during a video conference with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, reinforcing Ankara’s image as a constructive external actor in South Asian security.
Naval Deployment: TCG BÜYÜKADA’s Goodwill Visit
Arrival and Strategic Significance
On May 4, 2025, the Turkish Navy corvette TCG BÜYÜKADA (F-512) arrived at Karachi Port on a scheduled goodwill visit, remaining docked through May 7, 2025. The visit followed the landing of a Turkish Air Force C-130 transport aircraft in Karachi days earlier, which fueled speculation of deeper military support amid rising tensions. Pakistan termed the docking a “goodwill visit” aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and mutual understanding between the two navies.
Furthermore, in a significant show of solidarity, a fleet of Turkish Navy warships and the naval deployment, which includes TCG Kemalreis (F-247), a Barbaros-class frigate, and supporting logistics vessels, is part of a scheduled joint maritime exercise aimed at strengthening interoperability and reaffirming military cooperation under the 2019 Pakistan-Turkey Strategic Framework Agreement.
Moreover, Turkish naval officers also held meetings with senior officials from the Pakistan Navy, discussing enhanced maritime security collaboration in the Arabian Sea, counter-terrorism measures, and joint response strategies in the event of escalating regional instability.
The visit underscored the deep-rooted mutual trust and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, anchored in centuries-old historical and cultural ties. Türkiye remains one of Pakistan’s most dependable defense partners, providing advanced systems across multiple domains. Their collaboration spans from corvettes to drones and even fifth-generation fighter jets.
This visit is more than a courtesy call; it is part of a larger strategy aimed at reinforcing Ankara-Islamabad ties through maritime collaboration and defense diplomacy. It reflects a concerted effort to build a mutual security architecture in an increasingly uncertain world, signaling alignment and readiness amid regional instability.
As part of the goodwill activities, students from Pak‑Turk Maarif International Schools and Colleges were invited aboard TCG BÜYÜKADA to explore its operations and technologies. Over 100 learners toured the corvette’s bridge, engineering compartments, and weapons control station, gaining first-hand insight into Türkiye’s MİLGEM national ship project and modern naval architecture.
The visit widely shared by Pak‑Turk Maarif on social media allowed students to engage with Turkish officers, ask technical questions, and experience maritime career pathways, thereby nurturing bilateral people‑to‑people connections. Educators noted that the tour inspired interest in STEM fields and underscored the value of educational exchanges in deepening Pakistan–Türkiye friendship.
Joint Exercises and Professional Engagements
During its stay, the crew of TCG BÜYÜKADA participated in a series of professional exchanges, including coordinated search-and-rescue drills and communications interoperability tests, designed to enhance operational synergy under the 2019 Pakistan–Türkiye Strategic Framework Agreement. The Pakistan Navy’s Directorate General Public Relations emphasized the visit’s role in fostering strategic trust and sharing best practices in maritime security.
Deepening Bilateral Cooperation: Strategic Framework Council and Beyond
1. 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council Outcomes
The naval visit and diplomatic outreach come on the heels of the 7th Pakistan–Türkiye high-level Strategic Cooperation Council held in Islamabad on February 13, 2025, co-chaired by Erdoğan and Sharif, which produced 24 memoranda of understanding across defense technology transfer, energy collaboration, trade facilitation, and educational exchanges. Both nations reaffirmed a joint target of elevating bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2027, with Turkish investors eyeing infrastructure and renewable energy projects in Pakistan.
2. Defense and Technology Partnerships
Key defense accords include joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles and licensed manufacturing of Turkish communication and radar systems in Pakistani facilities. Additionally, Pakistan has expanded military training programs for its officers in Turkish academies, while Turkey continues to support modernization efforts for Pakistan’s Agosta-class submarines.
3. Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Cooperation
While not directly tied to the April 2025 crisis, Türkiye and Pakistan have established mechanisms for the rapid deployment of humanitarian aid and medical support during natural disasters and conflict-induced displacement, reflecting the depth of their strategic partnership.
Geopolitical Implications
1. Emergence of Multipolar Alliances
Analysts view Türkiye’s assertive engagement in the South Asian security landscape as evidence of its ambition to project influence beyond its conventional sphere, positioning Ankara as a “swing state” capable of balancing Chinese, American, and regional interests. The naval deployment and vocal diplomatic backing serve as symbolic deterrents rather than triggers for direct military confrontation.
2. Impact on India–Türkiye Relations
New Delhi’s reaction has included calls to boycott Turkish goods and diplomatic rebukes of Ankara’s stance, marking a low point in India–Turkey relations. Nonetheless, Turkey’s calculated support for Pakistan is driven by long-term strategic considerations and cultural affinities rather than immediate military advantage.
Social Media Trends and Hashtags
The Pakistan–India crisis and Türkiye’s solidarity with Pakistan have generated a flurry of activity on social media platforms:
- #StandWithPakistan has trended globally, showing solidarity with Pakistani civilians affected by cross-border clashes.
- #TürkiyeWithPakistan and #PakistanTurkeyFriendship highlight support for Ankara’s diplomatic and naval gestures.
- #TCGBÜYÜKADA went viral when Pakistani and Turkish Navy images circulated online, emphasizing the goodwill visit.
- Counter-trends like #BoycottTurkey emerged among Indian netizens opposed to Ankara’s stance.
- #StopIndianAggression and #PeaceInKashmir amplified calls for an end to hostilities and international mediation.
To conclude, Türkiye’s diplomatic activism and naval deployment in response to the April 2025 Pakistan–India crisis reflects deepening Ankara-Islamabad ties rooted in strategic, cultural, and economic convergence. By combining high-level political outreach with a symbolic show of maritime solidarity set under the backdrop of 24 strategic agreements signed in February 2025, nations reaffirm their partnership in an evolving multipolar South Asia. Social media has mirrored this alliance, with hashtags rallying global audiences around themes of solidarity, peace, and resistance to aggression.
Aroosa Salahuddin
Managing Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
Aroosa has extensive experience in media, public relations, project management, and strategic communications. With an MPhil in Strategic Studies and a specialization in Pakistan’s digital diplomacy, Aroosa has worked with influential national and international organizations. Her expertise spans advocacy, crisis communication, digital strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
