Turkey wants to see tensions ease between Pakistan and India, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday, following days of heightened military activity and diplomatic fallout after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
“We want the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India to be de-escalated as soon as possible, before they evolve into a more serious situation,” Erdoğan was quoted by Anadolu as saying.
The comments came after Pakistan and India exchanged small arms fire across the Line of Control, the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region, for several consecutive nights. The violence follows an April 22 attack near the town of Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, including Indian tourists. A group known as the Resistance Front, believed to have ties to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility, which they have later retracted.
India responded by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Wagah border crossing and expelling Pakistani diplomats. Pakistan in turn expelled Indian diplomats and threatened to suspend the Simla Agreement, which regulates control of the Kashmir region.
Against this backdrop, social media posts from Pakistan claimed that Turkey had delivered arms — including drones and missiles — on six military aircraft. The Turkish Defense Ministry denied the allegations, stating that a single Turkish Air Force transport plane landed in Pakistan for refueling before continuing on its route.
Erdogan did not directly address the arms shipment claims but emphasized Turkey’s broader interest in regional stability and diplomacy. “We are in contact with both countries and stand ready to contribute to peace in any way we can,” he said.
Both India and Pakistan have maintained high military readiness since the Kashmir attack. International actors have urged restraint to prevent the situation from escalating further.