Are the Growing Risks of Erdogan's Turkey Openly Supporting 'Rogue State' Pakistan Alarming?

New Delhi: Turkey and Pakistan have committed to several collaborative initiatives and increased bilateral investments, particularly in essential areas such as renewable energy, information technology, defense production, infrastructure development, and agriculture, prior to Shehbaz Sharif's departure from Istanbul to Tehran earlier on Monday.

The Pakistani Prime Minister arrived in Turkey on Sunday, initiating a four-nation tour that also includes stops in Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.

During a recent military standoff with India, Ankara openly demonstrated its support for Islamabad, prompting Sharif to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the second time in a month. Their last encounter was on April 22, coinciding with the tragic Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. Erdogan had also undertaken a State Visit to Pakistan in February 2025.

According to reports, Erdogan conveyed to Sharif that it is essential for Turkey and Pakistan to strengthen their cooperation in education, intelligence sharing, and technological support in their efforts against terrorism. Sharif was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, and Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during his meeting with Erdogan.

Experts believe that this meeting further solidified their mutual stance against India, as Ankara has emerged as the second-largest arms supplier to Islamabad.

Earlier this month, Pakistan targeted Indian civilian, military, and religious sites using Turkey's Asisguard Songar drones, which were intercepted by India's robust air defenses.

On April 27 and May 2, six Turkish C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, likely carrying arms shipments, landed at Karachi airport, while the Turkish warship TCG Buyukada (F-512), part of the Ada-class ASW corvettes of the Turkish Navy, also docked at Karachi.

Turkey's military assistance to Pakistan not only highlights the essence of their partnership but also reflects their transnational alliance against India.

Under Erdogan's leadership, Turkey is striving to establish itself as a leader within the Muslim world, utilizing its Islamic identity to counter Western influence, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Pakistan has frequently aligned itself with Turkey's narratives, particularly on Islamophobia, to resonate with the global Muslim community.

Turkey backs Pakistan's positions in various ways: endorsing its stance on Kashmir, promoting anti-India narratives, and utilizing diplomatic channels and state mechanisms, including media, to encourage global boycott campaigns against India.

Turkish media outlets consistently amplify misinformation following every Pakistan-backed terror attack on India, from Uri to Pulwama and now Pahalgam. They have also echoed Pakistan's viewpoint following India's revocation of Articles 370.

Both nations have utilized the OIC to further anti-India narratives in 2020, citing CAA/NRC and Kashmir to assert claims of Islamophobia.

“Collaborating with Pakistan's ISI to raise the Kashmir issue benefits a desperate Erdogan, who seeks to become the indisputable ‘Caliph’ of the Muslim Ummah and achieve his primary aim of acquiring nuclear technology. Turkish support for Pakistan's campaign against India in Kashmir also solidifies Erdogan's influence among the Pakistani Punjabi Muslims, a demographic he is counting on to claim leadership of the Islamic world,” stated a senior official.

The official revealed that Turkey-backed transnational organizations are tirelessly working to undermine the integrity and secular framework of Indian governance. The Diyanet or DIB, Turkey's powerful Presidency of Religious Affairs, has experienced significant growth in both influence and budget.

Simultaneously, Islamist foundations associated with Erdogan are disseminating false narratives, targeting youth with propaganda reminiscent of jihadist rhetoric.

The International University of Sarajevo (IUS), established by the Foundation for Education Development Sarajevo (SEDEF) in 2003, is led by Sevgi Kurtulmus, spouse of Numan Kurtulmus, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey and the current Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

The Turkey Youth Foundation (TUGVA), a government-funded organization, has played a pivotal role in this propagandistic effort. Its Chairman, Ibrahim Beşinci, often accompanies state delegations on President Erdogan's official visits abroad.

“Despite India providing Turkey with vital support during its darkest moment through relief and rescue efforts in ‘Operation Dost’ in February 2023, Turkey continues to back Pakistan, a nation known for exporting terrorism, by supplying arms aimed at India. More alarmingly, Erdogan's ambitions pose a threat to global stability,” cautioned another expert.

Unquestionably, Pakistan, a persistent supporter of terrorism, is finding a secure and welcoming ally in Ankara.

(The author is an expert on South Asia and Eurasia, formerly associated with the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. The opinions expressed are personal.)