Turkey’s deepening alliance with Pakistan, especially amid rising regional tensions, is drawing international concern as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan backs Islamabad both diplomatically and militarily.

On Monday, Turkish and Pakistani leaders announced joint ventures in defense, energy, IT, and agriculture as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrapped up his visit to Turkey — the first leg of his four-nation tour. Notably, this was Sharif’s second meeting with Erdogan in a month.

Erdogan pledged greater cooperation with Pakistan on intelligence sharing and military collaboration, even as Ankara emerged as the second-largest arms supplier to Islamabad.

Analysts warn Turkey’s support of Pakistan’s aggressive posturing — including drone attacks using Turkish systems — reveals a strategic anti-India axis. Turkish warships and military aircraft were spotted in Karachi in recent weeks, hinting at enhanced arms cooperation.

Beyond military ties, Turkey has amplified anti-India narratives globally, especially on Kashmir and Article 370, using state-backed media and international platforms like the OIC. Experts see Erdogan’s ambitions to lead the Muslim world as a driving factor behind this alignment.

Despite India’s humanitarian support to Turkey during the 2023 earthquakes, Erdogan’s stance remains adversarial. Experts caution that Ankara’s alliance with Pakistan could destabilize South Asia and beyond.