India Counters Pakistan-Turkey Defence and Strategic Nexus

India Counters Pakistan-Turkey Defence and Strategic Nexus

Why in the News ?

India repelled a massive Pakistani drone attack, with preliminary investigations revealing Turkish-made drones. This highlights the growing military and strategic partnership between Turkey and Pakistan, which poses challenges for India’s national security and regional diplomacy.

India Counters Pakistan-Turkey Defence and Strategic Nexus

Growing Defence Collaboration Between Pakistan and Turkey:

  • Over 300 drones, believed to be Turkish Songar models, were used in Pakistan’s attempted attack on Indian military and civilian sites.
  • Turkey is Pakistan’s second-largest arms supplier after China, aiding Islamabad with Bayraktar drones, Kemankes missiles, and STM naval support.
  • A Turkish military aircraft and warship recently docked in Karachi, raising concerns over continued arms transfers.

  • The Pak-Turkey defence cooperation includes submarine upgrades, corvette deals, and joint naval drills, strengthening Pakistan’s military capacity in the Indian Ocean Region.

Ideological and Strategic Convergence

  • The two nations share a long-standing Islamic identity, with ties rooted in Cold War-era alliances (CENTO, RCD).
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited Pakistan over 10 times, most recently in 2025, reinforcing high-level engagement.
  • Both countries often support each other in crises, with Pakistan backing Turkey in Cyprus, and Turkey consistently supporting Pakistan on Kashmir.
  • The 2019 Kuala Lumpur Summit—boycotted under Saudi pressure—exposed Ankara’s ambitions to lead the Muslim world with Islamabad’s support.

India’s Strategic Response and Regional Realignment

  • India has reinforced ties with Cyprus, Greece, and Armenia—Turkey’s regional adversaries.
  • India became Armenia’s top arms supplier in 2024, countering Turkey-Azerbaijan-Pakistan trilateral cooperation.
  • The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) bypasses Turkey, undermining its “bridge between Asia and Europe” narrative.
  • Despite India’s earthquake aid in 2023, Turkey remains diplomatically aligned with Pakistan, underscoring Ankara’s pro-Islamabad tilt.