Following recent escalations between India and Pakistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing Turkey’s readiness to provide all possible assistance. The call comes in the wake of missile strikes carried out by India on May 6th, targeting Pakistani territory and the Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir region, purportedly in retaliation for a terrorist attack in the Pahalgam area on April 22nd, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals.
The Indian military claimed to have struck nine targets, which they described as “terrorist infrastructure.” In contrast, Islamabad reported that the strikes hit six civilian locations, causing the loss of 26 lives. Amidst the exchange, the Pakistani military asserted that it had downed five Indian warplanes during the Indian offensive, a claim that has not been confirmed by New Delhi.
In the aftermath of these events, President Erdoğan reached out to Prime Minister Sharif today to convey Turkey’s solidarity with Pakistan. During the conversation, Erdoğan extended his condolences for the Pakistani lives lost in the attacks and wished a swift recovery to those injured. Significantly, President Erdoğan stated Turkey’s commitment to exerting all possible efforts to prevent further escalation of the existing tensions.
The Turkish Directorate of Communications released a statement detailing the discussions:
“During the meeting, the tensions between India and Pakistan, the attack on the night of May 6th, and the latest developments were addressed. President Erdoğan conveyed Turkey’s solidarity with Pakistan and offered his condolences for the Pakistani citizens martyred in the attack, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.”
The statement further elaborated on President Erdoğan’s stance, quoting him as saying, “Our President stated that Turkey supports Pakistan’s composed and prudent policy during this process and that the proposal for an impartial, transparent, and reliable international investigation into the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir is appropriate. President Erdoğan also expressed that Turkey is ready to do its utmost to prevent the escalation of tension and that diplomatic contacts on this matter will continue.”
