Turkish president, Pakistani premier hold talks on regional stability

2026-03-20 - 09:19

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, during which the two leaders addressed bilateral relations, regional developments, and the evolving situation in Afghanistan. The call, confirmed by Türkiye's Communications Directorate on the NSosyal platform, underscored the deepening coordination between Ankara and Islamabad amid growing regional tensions. Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to peace-oriented diplomacy, stating that Ankara will continue taking steps to ensure stability across the region. He emphasized that Pakistan's security and stability hold particular significance for Türkiye, adding that the two nations will maintain their joint efforts toward lasting peace. The Turkish president also congratulated Sharif on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Türkiye's Stance on Al-Aqsa and Regional Provocations During the conversation, Erdogan addressed recent provocations targeting Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's first qibla and one of the holiest sites in the Muslim world. He stressed that Türkiye cannot accept such actions and called on the Islamic world to break its silence on the matter. His remarks reflected Ankara's longstanding position on defending the sanctity of Jerusalem's holy sites. Pakistan's Pause on Afghan Operations The call comes amid a significant development on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Pakistan announced on Wednesday that it had temporarily paused its military operations in Afghanistan following requests from Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid subsequently confirmed a temporary halt to operations on his side as well, citing goodwill and appeals from the same three nations. Border tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated sharply since late February, with cross-border clashes claiming scores of lives. According to official figures, at least 107 people have been killed on both sides. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented 76 civilian deaths and 213 injuries between Feb. 26 and March 16, not including a recent strike on a Kabul hospital that Afghan officials said killed more than 400 people. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups that carry out attacks on its territory, a charge Kabul denies.