Backhanded Brotherhood: Turkey’s Covert Support to Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions with India

In a disturbing yet significant development, Turkey appears to be subtly aligning with Pakistan amid rising tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.

The recent arrival of the Turkish Navy warship TCG Büyükada at Karachi port-just days after a Turkish Air Force C-130 aircraft landed in the same city-has raised eyebrows in defence circles. While both Ankara and Islamabad claim these visits are part of routine cooperation and 'goodwill gestures,' the timing, frequency, and nature of the exchanges suggest otherwise.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/trpresidency

The official line from the Pakistani Navy is that the warship's visit aims to 'strengthen maritime cooperation' between the two nations. Yet, this benign diplomatic phrasing cannot obscure the deeper strategic entanglements between Turkey and Pakistan. Only recently, both countries concluded a joint military drill, Ataturk-XIII, highlighting their intent to bolster interoperability between their armed forces. In fact, Turkey is already building four MİLGEM corvettes for Pakistan, two of which will be manufactured at the Karachi Shipyard. Earlier, Turkey also helped construct a massive 17,000-ton fleet tanker in Pakistan and continues to train Pakistani defence personnel and maintain Islamabad's fleet of F-16s.

The real question is: why does Turkey, a NATO member, show such unambiguous warmth to Pakistan-even as the latter faces global scrutiny for harbouring terrorism?

A History Rooted in Islamic Brotherhood

The bond between Turkey and Pakistan is not new; it's deeply rooted in shared Islamic identity and political opportunism. Pakistani leaders often invoke the Khilafat Movement-the campaign by Muslims in support of the Ottoman Caliphate-as a symbol of enduring solidarity with Turkey. In 2020, Pakistan even planned centenary celebrations of the movement, further cementing historical ties.

This relationship has flourished particularly under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership, who sees himself as a modern-day defender of Muslim causes worldwide. In Pakistan, Erdogan finds an eager ally ready to echo his anti-Western, pan-Islamic rhetoric. After the failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016, then-Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif was among the first world leaders to offer support, a gesture Erdogan has not forgotten.

In this context, Turkey's recent moves-despite being officially sugar-coated in diplomatic lingo-reflect more than mere friendship. They are signals of strategic posturing, aimed at bolstering Pakistan's morale in its ongoing friction with India.

Ankara's Strategic Calculus

Turkey's overtures towards Pakistan are partly motivated by its disenchantment with the West, particularly Europe and the US. Erdogan, having faced diplomatic isolation from Western powers over issues ranging from Syria to human rights, has turned East for allies. Pakistan, with its geopolitical clout in the Muslim world and access to China via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), fits perfectly into Ankara's ambitions to expand influence in Asia.

Yet, Turkey seems to have conveniently forgotten India's assistance during its 2023 earthquake crisis, when New Delhi promptly offered aid and expressed solidarity through Operation Dost. That goodwill appears to have been cast aside.

A Not-So-Goodwill Visit?

The arrival of Turkish military assets in Pakistan during a period of escalating Indo-Pak tensions cannot be overlooked as mere coincidence. While Turkey was quick to dismiss speculation about the C-130 aircraft carrying military cargo, the opacity surrounding these visits fuels suspicion. This perceived backhanded support could embolden Islamabad, knowing it has a military and political ally in Ankara ready to vouch for it-at least indirectly-on international platforms.

Furthermore, Turkey has consistently supported Pakistan's narrative on Kashmir, including at the UN and OIC. It has also backed Pakistan's case in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other global fora, often at India's expense. This growing closeness is not just bilateral but part of a broader strategic realignment.

Implications for India

India must view Turkey's actions through a pragmatic lens. While New Delhi has largely focused on Pakistan and China in its strategic calculus, Turkey's deepening military and ideological embrace of Pakistan adds another layer to regional complexities. India's diplomatic channels must now factor in Ankara's increasingly assertive posture, especially in South Asia.

With the tensions between India and Pakistan increasing with each passing day, Turkey's choices will find their mention in the history books.