Pakistan, Türkiye leaders discuss Middle East tensions, regional stability

ISLAMABAD/ANKARA: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye spoke by telephone on Tuesday to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East and regional security, according to official statements from both governments.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sharif said he “strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Iran and the subsequent regrettable attacks on other brotherly Gulf countries.”

He told Erdoğan that Pakistan had reached out to Gulf leaders and reaffirmed Islamabad’s “full solidarity” with them, while expressing readiness to play a constructive role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation.

Sharif added that both leaders agreed “maximum restraint by all parties is imperative to prevent further escalation,” and exchanged views on recent developments in Afghanistan, resolving to maintain “close and frequent contact in our shared pursuit of peace and stability in the region.”

Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye said in a tweet that President Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s support for Pakistan in countering terrorism and said Ankara would contribute to the re-establishment of the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, achieved through Turkish initiatives.

Erdoğan also underscored the importance of renewed regional diplomacy in light of recent attacks on Iran and signalled Türkiye’s readiness to provide support to reduce tensions.

The call came amid a surge in Middle East hostilities, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, with missile attacks reported across the Gulf, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict.