Turkey's Support for Pakistan Raises Tensions in Region
The Turkey-Pakistan alliance is driven by a complex array of factors, including historical ties, strategic interests, and ideological affiliations. As the conflict escalates, it is essential to understand the nuances of this partnership and its implications for the region, with India, Greece, Armenia, and other countries playing a crucial role in shaping the outcome.
Pakistan's use of Turkish-made drones to attack India has heightened tensions in the region, with Turkey emerging as a key player in the conflict. As Turkey's second-largest arms supplier and a close ally, Pakistan has consistently received backing from Turkey on the Kashmir issue, prompting India to adjust its geopolitical partnerships.
The Turkey-Pakistan nexus has led India to strengthen its relationships with countries such as Greece, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which have historically been close to Pakistan. The US has also shifted its focus from Afghanistan to the Indo-Pacific region, leaving Pakistan feeling isolated. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a key factor in Turkey's backing of Pakistan, driven by his pan-Islamist foreign policy vision.
The deepening Turkey-Pakistan defense partnership has significant implications for regional stability, with Turkey supplying Pakistan with advanced military equipment such as Bayraktar drones, Kemankes cruise missiles, and Asisguard Songar drones. This has raised concerns in India, which has been responding by strengthening its ties with Greece and Armenia, and has also entered into defense cooperation with these countries.
Pakistan has been spreading false claims of retaliatory strikes on Indian locations, which have been debunked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The PIB has stated that most circulating videos are either old, unrelated, or digitally manipulated content, emphasizing the need for caution in verifying information amidst the escalating tensions.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is watching closely, with many countries wary of Turkish regional activism. The implications of the Turkey-Pakistan defense partnership will likely be far-reaching, with significant consequences for regional stability and global geopolitics.