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President Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif held a phone call covering bilateral ties, the situation in Afghanistan, and broader regional tensions, with both leaders emphasizing dialogue and de-escalation as the path forward.
The conversation, confirmed by Türkiye's Presidential Communications Directorate, touched on a wide range of issues including bilateral cooperation, regional and global developments, and the latest situation in Afghanistan.
Erdogan underscored that Türkiye's peace-oriented efforts regarding conflicts in the region would continue, and that Ankara would keep taking steps to ensure stability and tranquility. He also stressed that Pakistan's peace and security hold great importance for Türkiye, pledging continued joint efforts toward lasting stability.
Sharif, writing on X after the call, said he had conveyed Eid ul-Fitr greetings to Erdogan and described the exchange as "most cordial." The Pakistani prime minister said the two leaders discussed what he called "the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East," and that he had "strongly condemned the attacks on our brotherly country Turkiye as well as other brotherly Gulf countries in the region."
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's "steadfast solidarity" with Türkiye and Gulf nations, and expressed readiness to support de-escalation and dialogue. Both leaders urged maximum restraint and emphasized resolving differences through diplomatic channels.
The two leaders also exchanged views on Afghanistan, with Sharif acknowledging Türkiye's constructive role in supporting peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He specifically noted Ankara's contribution toward a recent temporary ceasefire during the Eid period.
Türkiye has long positioned itself as a mediator in Afghan affairs, leveraging its historical and cultural ties in the region. Ankara has maintained diplomatic engagement with various Afghan stakeholders and has repeatedly offered to facilitate dialogue among regional parties.
Erdogan also raised the issue of what he described as provocations targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first qibla of Muslims, saying that such actions were unacceptable and that the Islamic world could not remain silent on the matter.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in Jerusalem's Old City, is one of the holiest sites in Islam and has long been a focal point of Israeli-Palestinian tensions. The compound, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, has been a recurring flashpoint, with access and worship rights at the site remaining a deeply sensitive political and religious issue.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest. Erdogan also extended Eid al-Fitr greetings to Sharif during the call.
Türkiye and Pakistan share deep diplomatic, military, and cultural ties that have been described by leaders of both nations as a "strategic partnership."
The two countries have consistently supported each other on key international issues, and high-level contacts between Ankara and Islamabad have intensified in recent years.
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