Overview

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul to discuss bilateral relations, regional security, and counter-terrorism efforts.
• The discussions occur as India-Turkey relations remain strained following Turkey's criticism of India's Operation Sindoor and its support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
• Recent Turkish military deployments to Pakistan, including an Ada-class anti-submarine corvette and a C-130 Hercules aircraft, have drawn India's attention.
• Turkey and Pakistan's partnership is rooted in shared Islamic identity and has strengthened under Erdogan's leadership, with over ten visits to Pakistan since 2003.
• India's boycott of Turkish goods and services, a response to Turkey's stance on Operation Sindoor, is projected to cost Turkey $315 million in trade losses.