The significance of this diplomatic visit lies not just in symbolic gestures of support but in concrete steps to deepen strategic, economic, and defence cooperation across the region.
Recently, government of Pakistan took diplomacy into its high gear. In the aftermath of Pakistan’s tense standoff with India Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched and completed a four-nation tour. It was a high-stakes diplomatic mission. This four-nation tour saw back-to-back engagements with leaders of Turkiye and Azerbaijan. These two countries stood by Pakistan as steadfast allies. The visits highlighted Pakistan’s strategic realignment and emphasis on regional solidarity in the face of rising tensions in South Asia.
These visits were not just formalities; they marked a strategic shift. Pakistan was realigning itself with regional partners at a time of growing instability in South Asia. By meeting face-to-face with Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ilham Aliyev, PM Sharif underscored Pakistan’s steadfastness. It was a powerful gesture that showed Pakistan’s commitment to solidarity, diplomacy, and mutual strength in a changing regional landscape.
PM Sharif’s brief diplomatic campaign began in Turkiye and culminated in Azerbaijan’s southwestern city of Lachin. These engagements followed India’s missile strikes on Pakistani territory and Pakistan subsequent military response in what is now being described as “Operation Marak-e-Haq” and “Bunyan Um Marsoos.” Pakistan achieved an overwhelming victory, and key allies have since lined up to express solidarity with Pakistan.
Both Turkiye and Azerbaijan explicitly supported Pakistan’s stance during the crisis, admired its measured response, and called for peaceful conflict resolution. Therefore, the significance of this diplomatic visit lies not just in symbolic gestures of support but in concrete steps to deepen strategic, economic, and defence cooperation across the region.
PM Sharif first stop was Turkiye, where he was received by top Turkish officials. PM Sharif conducted a meeting with President Erdoğan in Ankara. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties, rooted in what PM Sharif called as “deep-rooted, historic, and brotherly relations.”
The most important point of their discussion was an agreement to strengthen cooperation in key sectors — renewable energy, defence production, IT, infrastructure, and agriculture. The leaders also re-examined goals set during the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) held in Pakistan earlier this year, particularly the ambitious target of reaching $5 billion in bilateral trade.
President Erdogan glorified Pakistan’s response to Indian aggression and called for restraint from India. President Erdogan also supported Pakistan’s call for an investigation into the April 22 incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 dead. Erdogan warned that unconstrained military actions could spiral into a wider regional conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Similarly, in Lachin, PM Sharif met President Ilham Aliyev on the eve of the first Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit. The meeting was both symbolic and strategic. The PM sharif thanked Azerbaijan for its vocal support during the India-Pakistan conflict and reiterated Pakistan’s enduring friendship with Azerbaijan.
President Aliyev, in turn, congratulated Pakistan on its recent military success reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to fortify its partnership with Pakistan across political, economic, and cultural spheres. The meeting reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and laid the groundwork for deeper cooperation in investment, defence, and energy.
Significantly, Azerbaijan agreed to send high-level delegations to Pakistan to explore new investment opportunities.
This trilateral summit indicates a growing strategic convergence among these three Muslim-majority nations. While defence and economic cooperation were central to the agenda, the summit also carried strong geopolitical traces. All three countries reiterated support for each other’s core interests — from Turkiye’s position on Cyprus to Pakistan’s claims on Jammu and Kashmir.
The summit reflects an emerging triangle that may, in the long term, act as a counterweight to regional hegemonies and alignments. For Pakistan, this collaboration strengthens its diplomatic hand at a time when India is seeking closer ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers.
Pakistan is not only looking for diplomatic goodwill but also translating support into actionable economic partnerships. These visits showcased Pakistan’s pivot toward multilateralism in its foreign policy. Both Turkiye and Azerbaijan supported Pakistan’s emphasis on diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution, underlining Pakistan’s determined to be seen as a responsible regional actor despite India’s provocations.
Prime Minister Sharif’s recent diplomatic engagements have successfully mobilized regional support for Pakistan in the aftermath of escalating tensions with India. His efforts have notably advanced trilateral cooperation with Turkiye and Azerbaijan. This emerging coalition has the potential to recalibrate regional power dynamics and furnish Pakistan with enhanced diplomatic leverage at a critical juncture in South Asia’s evolving security dynamics.
