Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting in Baku that Türkiye is closely monitoring the rising border tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban.
He stressed that Ankara considers the preservation of the ceasefire between the two sides essential. Sharif, in turn, expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s role in facilitating recent talks between Islamabad and the Taliban.
The leaders met on Saturday on the sidelines of events marking the fifth anniversary of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day. Turkish and Pakistani troops and aircraft took part in the military parade.
According to the Pakistani government, Erdogan and Sharif agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and international issues and to strengthen joint efforts promoting peace and stability across the Islamic world.
Anadolu reported that Erdogan had conveyed concern over recent militant attacks in Pakistan and said Ankara was monitoring Islamabad’s tensions with the Taliban. He reportedly stressed that sustaining the ceasefire would be important and voiced hope that dialogue between Pakistan and the Taliban could lead to lasting stability. He said Türkiye intended to continue supporting the process.
Sharif, in a speech delivered at the Victory Day anniversary ceremony, said Pakistan’s recent efforts for peace had been tested in the context of Afghanistan. He reportedly credited Türkiye and Qatar with playing a valuable role in facilitating negotiations between Islamabad and the Taliban administration.
Senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, including Türkiye’s foreign minister, defence minister, and intelligence chief, as well as Pakistan’s army chief and other high-ranking representatives.
The third round of Pakistan–Taliban talks in Istanbul ended in deadlock. Pakistan’s defence minister said there were currently no plans for another round of talks. The Taliban spokesperson likewise confirmed that the Istanbul negotiations had produced no results, saying certain elements within Pakistan’s military and intelligence establishment were obstructing progress.
Qatar and Türkiye have hosted all three rounds of talks. The first round in Doha resulted in an immediate ceasefire, while the second and third rounds in Istanbul ended without agreement.
