Erdogan & family guiding Turkey-Pakistan axis

The Turkey-Pakistan axis is not just about military dynamics as Ankara has over the years assisted Islamabad in pushing its anti-India narrative. Led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's family, Turkey has used social media handles, television channels and conferences to push Pakistan's narrative, ET has reliably learnt.

Persons familiar with Turkey-Pakistan dynamics alleged that Turkey's premier channel TRT World has been at the forefront of shaping narrative favourable to Pakistan, including during the Operation Sindoor and the subsequent conflict.

Two weeks before the Pahalgam terror attack, Istanbul hosted a seminar on Pakistan's narrative on the Kashmir issue with participation of pro-Pakistan figures, sources familiar with developments told ET. Erdogan had disallowed ISI-sponsored seminars on Kashmir in Turkey a few years back only to revive it again.

Since 2018, coordinated social media campaigns comprising major anti-India narrative have resonated simultaneously from Islamabad and Istanbul, sources alleged. Through a network of NGOs across continents, the Erdogan family has allegedly built an influence network that pushes narrative for Hamas as well as Pakistan-sponsored anti-India campaigns.

A Turkish organisation TUGVA that pursues the political ambitions of Erdogan's AKP also helps Pakistan to create its narrative, ET has learnt. Pakistan has often backed Turkey's narratives, including on Islamophobia.

While high-level visits from Pakistan to Turkey and vice-versa have increased over the past two years, the recently-concluded visit by the Pakistan PM to Turkey saw the presence of Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir also. This was part of efforts to give Munir international legitimacy.

In Tehran, Sharif did not get the desired support as Iran stayed neutral amid its strategic ties with India.