Erdoğan and Pakistan's Sharif Discuss Afghanistan, Middle East in Phone Call
By Bosphorus New Geopolitics Desk
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 19, covering the situation in Afghanistan, the escalation in the Middle East, and bilateral relations. The call was confirmed by the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office and by Sharif on social media.
According to the PM Office statement, Sharif acknowledged Türkiye's role in the Pakistan-Afghanistan peace process directly. "We also exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan, and I acknowledged Türkiye's constructive role in supporting peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly its contribution towards the recent temporary ceasefire during Eid days," he said.
Sharif also reiterated his condemnation of missile attacks on Türkiye and expressed solidarity with the Turkish people. "The entire Pakistani nation stood in solidarity with their Turkish brothers and sisters in these challenging times," the statement quoted him as saying. The two leaders agreed to maintain close engagement on regional peace and stability.
Türkiye's Mediation Role
The Eid ceasefire referred to by Sharif was the result of a joint diplomatic push by Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan and Pakistan announced a temporary halt in hostilities on March 18, with the pause taking effect at midnight and running through midnight on March 23-24. As Bosphorus News reported, the Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the agreement, stating that it hoped the ceasefire would "pave the way to a process whereby lasting peace and prosperity will be provided to the peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Türkiye's involvement in the conflict predates the Eid pause. Erdoğan had publicly offered to mediate as early as March 4, when cross-border fighting was in its sixth day. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had separately contacted Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi the previous week. Türkiye and Qatar had also brokered an earlier ceasefire in October 2025, following the deadliest cross-border clashes in years. That truce broke down before the current round of fighting began.
Pakistan announced the Eid pause as a suspension of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, its ongoing military campaign targeting militant infrastructure in Afghanistan, citing the religious occasion and appeals from Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Middle East
During the March 19 call, both leaders addressed the escalation in the Middle East. Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's condemnation of missile attacks on Türkiye and expressed Islamabad's readiness to support de-escalation and dialogue. The two agreed that maximum restraint by all parties was essential.
***This report is based on statements from the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office and Türkiye's Presidential Communications Directorate.