Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, a Turkish Navy ship has docked at Karachi port, prompting speculation over Islamabad’s motives in hosting a foreign naval presence at such a sensitive time.
The vessel, TCG Büyükada, was received with ceremonial honours at the port, with officials from both Turkish and Pakistani navies present. The visit has been officially described as a "goodwill visit" by Pakistan, aimed at fostering maritime cooperation between the two nations.
However, with New Delhi and Islamabad locked in a standoff after the massacre in Pahalgam — in which 26 tourists, including 25 Indian nationals, were killed — analysts suggest the development could be more than symbolic.
India has responded to the attack with a raft of countermeasures: suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, banning Pakistani vessels from Indian ports, closing airspace to Pakistani aircraft, and downgrading diplomatic ties with Islamabad.
Against this backdrop, the docking of a Turkish warship has prompted questions over whether it signals a deepening of naval ties or a strategic manoeuvre by Pakistan to bolster its maritime posture with support from Ankara.
According to a statement from the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of the Pakistan Navy, “During its stay in Karachi, the crew of TCG Büyükada will engage in a series of professional interactions with Pakistan Navy personnel.”
The DGPR added: “The visit aims to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen maritime cooperation between the two navies.”
It further noted, “The goodwill visit of TCG Büyükada stands as a testament to the ever-strengthening maritime collaboration between Pakistan and Türkiye.”
“It reflects the deep-rooted mutual trust and strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations, anchored in centuries-old historical and cultural ties,” the statement read.
Pakistan and Türkiye share close defence and diplomatic ties. The two countries regularly conduct joint military drills and Ankara’s defence firms have contributed significantly to Pakistan’s naval modernisation, including work on the Agosta 90B-class submarines and the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles.
While the Pakistani government insists the visit is part of ongoing naval cooperation, the timing — coming days after a major terrorist attack — has led regional observers to examine possible strategic undercurrents behind the arrival of TCG Büyükada.
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