Why Turkey Has Chosen Pakistan Over India in South Asia’s Strategic Landscape

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Turkey has firmly chosen to side with Pakistan in the shifting geopolitical dynamics of South Asia, a move that marks a clear departure from its earlier attempts to balance relations with both India and Pakistan. This alignment, though years in the making, became unmistakable during the recent India-Pakistan military standoff, where Turkey offered Pakistan unambiguous support—both rhetorically and, reportedly, logistically.

Sources close to Ankara claim that Turkish military cargo aircraft carried supplies to Pakistan, though this has been officially denied by Turkish authorities. Nonetheless, the pattern of repeated and public condemnations of India’s military actions by Turkish leadership—including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—speaks volumes. Turkey criticized India's strikes as “provocative,” warning they could escalate into a broader conflict.

Unlike most Arab and Muslim-majority nations, Turkey—and to a lesser extent, Azerbaijan—stood out in directly condemning India. This firm stance is rooted in Ankara's evolving view of a “securitised South Asia,” where regional security developments are seen as affecting Turkish national interests.

Post-Cold War, both Turkey and Pakistan have found themselves sidelined in the Western security apparatus. Turkey’s fallout with NATO over its S-400 missile deal with Russia and its exclusion from key defence programs like the F-35 has led it to seek alternative allies. Pakistan, facing its own marginalization and increasingly reliant on China for defence support, has proven a strategic partner.

This shared isolation has forged a deeper partnership. Pakistan has emerged as Turkey’s most important defence ally outside NATO, with growing cooperation in military training, defence production, and strategic dialogue.

However, this choice has come at a cost. India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a key geopolitical player, has taken note of Ankara’s tilt. Despite previous Turkish efforts to offer strategic ties to New Delhi in exchange for peace initiatives with Pakistan, India now views Turkey’s posturing as partisan and counterproductive.

While countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have successfully de-hyphenated their relationships with India and Pakistan, Turkey has chosen a more definitive path. The shift reflects a prioritization of ideological and security alignment over economic diplomacy or strategic neutrality.