ISLAMABAD (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which the Turkish leader reaffirmed Ankara’s support for Pakistan and pledged efforts to help revive the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
According to a statement shared by the Turkish Presidency on X, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkiye and exchanged views on key regional and global developments.
President Erdogan strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and reiterated that Turkiye would continue to stand by Islamabad in its fight against terrorism. He said Ankara would contribute to restoring the Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire that had earlier been achieved through Turkish diplomatic initiatives.
Referring to the broader regional situation, President Erdogan emphasized that renewed diplomatic engagement would be highly beneficial amid tensions triggered by attacks against Iran. He expressed Turkiye’s readiness to extend all possible support to promote dialogue and stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, in a separate statement, said the discussion also focused on the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East. He condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent attacks on Gulf countries, describing them as regrettable.
The prime minister informed President Erdogan about his contacts with Gulf leaders and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with brotherly nations in the region. He also conveyed Pakistan’s willingness to play a constructive role in efforts aimed at de-escalation and peaceful dialogue.
Both leaders stressed the need for maximum restraint by all parties to prevent further escalation. They also discussed recent developments concerning Afghanistan and agreed to remain in close coordination to promote peace and stability in the region.
According to Radio Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz briefed the Turkish president on the latest situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to constructive diplomatic engagement.
Ties between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have significantly deteriorated over the past four years. In October last year, cross-border clashes erupted along the 2,600-kilometre frontier separating the two countries. Turkiye and Qatar later facilitated dialogue in Doha, resulting in a fragile ceasefire during the first round of talks. However, subsequent rounds produced limited progress and no lasting agreement.
On February 22, Pakistan carried out targeted strikes against alleged terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. Following retaliatory firing incidents along the border, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on February 26.
A senior security official recently stated that Pakistan would continue cross-border operations against terrorist sanctuaries until Kabul provides verifiable assurances that it will cease facilitating groups referred to as Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan. The official said there was no fixed timeline for concluding the operation and that its duration would depend on actions taken by the Afghan Taliban authorities.
He maintained that the campaign is intelligence-based and limited to specific targets linked to militant infrastructure, rejecting claims of indiscriminate action.
