Turkish President Says Region Must Not Return to War
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Israel’s government must not be allowed to push the Middle East into another wave of conflict. He made the remarks during a joint news conference in Istanbul with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after bilateral and delegation-level talks between Türkiye and Pakistan.
Erdogan said Türkiye is closely monitoring what he described as Israeli attempts to weaken the recent US-Iran understanding. He accused the Israeli administration of trying to “dynamite” the agreement and warned that the current Israeli government is driven by war. He said the region must not again be filled with violence, destruction, and bloodshed.
The Turkish president stressed that peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved through military pressure or outside-imposed solutions. He said any lasting settlement must include the will, participation, and support of regional countries. According to Erdogan, a durable peace will only be possible when countries in the region work together and support diplomacy over confrontation.
Erdogan also said Türkiye wants a future in which all communities in the region can live in safety. He said people must be able to live peacefully regardless of their religion, background, or identity. His comments came at a time of heightened regional concern over Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and wider tensions involving Iran and the United States.
Erdogan Praises Pakistan’s Diplomatic Role
President Erdogan praised Pakistan for its role in helping reduce tensions between the United States and Iran. He referred to the Islamabad Memorandum, an interim understanding between Washington and Tehran that was mediated by Pakistan.
He said the world felt relief after the calm created by the agreement. Erdogan congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan for their diplomatic contribution. He said Türkiye supports every step that lowers tensions and resolves disputes through peaceful dialogue.
Erdogan added that Türkiye will continue working with Pakistan and other regional partners to strengthen peace, stability, and prosperity. He said no regional crisis can be solved permanently without cooperation among the countries directly affected by it.
The Turkish leader also expressed concern over Israel’s actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. He accused Israeli forces of continuing unlawful and inhumane attacks against Palestinians in Gaza. He said Türkiye would continue to raise its voice against violence and support efforts for peace.
During the press conference, Erdogan also offered condolences over the deadly bus accident in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The accident killed 40 people on Friday.
Türkiye and Pakistan Move to Expand Strategic Cooperation
Alongside regional issues, the two leaders discussed Pakistan-Türkiye relations in detail. Erdogan said both countries continue to stand together in several fields. He said the talks focused on trade, investment, defence cooperation, energy, transportation, critical minerals, and information technology.
Erdogan said both countries reaffirmed their target of increasing bilateral trade volume to $5 billion. He said the trade ministries of Pakistan and Türkiye are working on a planned special economic zone for Turkish businesspeople in Karachi. Talks are also continuing on expanding the scope of the preferential trade agreement between the two countries.
The Turkish president said a business forum attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul would help deepen economic engagement. He encouraged Turkish investors to expand their operations in Pakistan and explore new opportunities in important sectors.
Erdogan also highlighted defence industry cooperation as a key part of Pakistan-Türkiye economic and strategic relations. He said new joint projects are moving forward and will help strengthen Pakistan’s defence and industrial capacity.
He said Türkiye wants to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in energy, transport links, critical minerals, and information technology. Erdogan added that both sides confirmed their determination to move forward with practical steps and long-term collaboration.
The visit reflects the close relationship between Pakistan and Türkiye. Both countries share strong cultural, religious, historical, and diplomatic ties. The latest talks in Istanbul are expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation and regional peace efforts.
