Turkey’s Erdoğan urges diplomacy in call with Shehbaz Sharif amid Middle East crisis

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone conversation Tuesday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling for an urgent return to diplomacy as tensions escalate across the Middle East following recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

According to Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations as well as rapidly developing regional events.

Erdoğan stressed that renewed diplomatic engagement offers the most viable path to de-escalation and warned that continued military confrontation risks further destabilizing an already fragile region.

The call comes amid heightened tensions after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted senior Iranian figures, dramatically increasing fears of wider conflict. Ankara has consistently advocated dialogue and political solutions in regional disputes, positioning itself as a potential mediator.

Condemnation of Attacks in Pakistan

During the conversation, Erdoğan condemned recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and reaffirmed Türkiye’s solidarity with Islamabad in its counterterrorism efforts. He underscored the close strategic partnership between the two countries and reiterated Ankara’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s security and stability.

Türkiye and Pakistan maintain strong diplomatic, economic, and defense ties, with regular high-level exchanges and cooperation across multiple sectors.

Support for Pakistan-Afghanistan Ceasefire

Erdoğan also addressed tensions along the Durand Line, the disputed Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier, expressing Türkiye’s readiness to assist in efforts to restore and maintain a ceasefire between the two neighbors.

Ankara has previously supported mediation and diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing violence along the Durand Line.

The leaders additionally reviewed broader regional developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Türkiye-Pakistan relations.

As instability spreads across the Middle East, Erdoğan’s outreach underscores Ankara’s diplomatic push to contain the crisis and prevent further escalation through dialogue rather than military confrontation.