The recent Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 Indian citizens, has dramatically escalated tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. India, furious over the loss of civilian lives, is widely expected to respond with calibrated military force. In anticipation of such action, Pakistan appears to be scrambling, with signs of internal panic and strategic anxiety clearly visible.
What has further intensified the regional unease is the conspicuous presence of Turkish military assets in Pakistan. Within days of the April 22 attack—carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy reportedly backed by Pakistan’s ISI—Turkey dispatched six military transport aircraft and a warship to Pakistan. While Ankara has described these movements as "routine" or "goodwill" visits, the timing and symbolism suggest otherwise.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif just hours after the Pahalgam attack. During the meeting, Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey's “unwavering support” for Pakistan, especially on the Kashmir issue—something India has repeatedly condemned as interference in its internal affairs. The deepening Ankara-Islamabad military axis has fueled speculation in Indian strategic circles that Turkey may be posturing as a security guarantor for Pakistan in the event of Indian retaliation.
The Turkish Navy’s stealth corvette TCG Bykada (F-512) docked at Karachi port on what both countries claimed was a goodwill visit. However, given its capabilities—anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, air defence systems, and a helicopter deck for anti-submarine warfare—its deployment in a volatile moment has raised eyebrows. The Pakistani Navy hailed it as a symbol of “deep-rooted strategic trust,” while Turkish and Pakistani officials framed the docking as a step to “strengthen maritime collaboration.”
But many analysts and journalists—both Pakistani and international—suggest this is more than mere optics. Pakistani journalist Ahmed Quraishi called it “more than a courtesy call,” noting its timing amid rising war rhetoric in Indian media and discussions of a potential naval blockade of Karachi. Turkish journalist Ragıp Soylu, however, argued the visit was part of Ankara's long-standing military ties with Pakistan and should not be viewed as direct interference in India-Pakistan tensions.
Compounding matters were reports of up to six Turkish C-130 military transport aircraft landing at Pakistani airbases in Karachi and Islamabad. While Turkish officials deny that these aircraft were ferrying military hardware, some Pakistani media outlets and social media accounts claim otherwise. The Turkish Directorate of Communications insisted that at least one of the aircraft was refueling en route elsewhere, but the narrative on the ground has been harder to control.
Amid this, reports surfaced indicating that Pakistan may have only four days of ammunition reserves in case of a full-scale military conflict. This shocking revelation has further raised the stakes, suggesting that Islamabad might be reliant on allies like Turkey and China for rapid resupply and strategic deterrence.
The robust defence partnership between Turkey and Pakistan is not new. Since the 1950s, both countries have engaged in defence cooperation, culminating in landmark deals like the 1980 Defence Cooperation Agreement. In recent years, the two countries have significantly stepped up joint weapons development, naval exercises, and military training. Turkey has supplied Pakistan with advanced drones like the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci, upgraded Pakistan’s F-16s, and jointly developed corvettes under the MILGEM program. Additionally, Ankara and Islamabad have collaborated on developing beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs) and unmanned aerial combat systems.
India sees these moves with grave concern, particularly at a time when Turkish rhetoric aligns more closely with Pakistani positions on Kashmir. Turkey's growing strategic assertiveness in South Asia could potentially open a new front in India’s already strained regional equation.
As the crisis continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the Turkish military’s footprint in Pakistan has added a dangerous new dimension to the already tense India-Pakistan standoff. While Ankara may claim neutrality, its repeated expressions of solidarity with Pakistan, especially at moments of high Indo-Pak tension—risk being perceived as tacit support for Islamabad’s actions. Whether Turkey’s involvement is symbolic or strategic, its presence has certainly complicated the calculus for India’s next move.
