Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for an urgent de-escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India, warning that the situation could spiral into a more serious crisis if not contained.
Speaking at a news conference following a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, Erdoğan emphasised: "Türkiye wants de-escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India as soon as possible, before it evolves into a more serious situation," particularly amid ongoing cross-border fire in the disputed Kashmir region.
Turning to the situation in the Middle East, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.
"Palestine belongs to the Palestinian people. Just like East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Gaza also belongs to the Palestinian people. Our brothers and sisters in Gaza will, God willing, continue to live on land where they were born forever," he stated, expressing hope that the people of Gaza would continue to live on their ancestral land.
Criticizing Israel’s continued blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Erdoğan stressed that no legitimate objective can be achieved through further bloodshed, the killing of innocent children, and the deprivation of essential resources like food and medicine.
Also Read: Pahalgam attack: China reaffirms support for Islamabad amid Indo-Pak tensions
Similarly, the United States has urged both India and Pakistan to work toward a "responsible solution" in the wake of escalating tensions following a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam area.
US State Department confirmed that Washington had contacted both New Delhi and Islamabad, monitoring the situation closely.
"This is an evolving situation, and we are monitoring developments closely. We have been in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels," a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters in an email.
The spokesperson added, "The United States encourages all parties to work together towards a responsible resolution."
On the other hand, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has also issued a statement reaffirming Beijing’s support for Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident. The statement expressed China’s full understanding of Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and strongly supported Islamabad’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests.
Also Read: US urges India, Pakistan to pursue peaceful resolution after Pahalgam attack
China also reiterated its support for a fair and timely investigation into the tragic attack in Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed by gunmen in occupied Kashmir four days ago.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasised the importance of impartiality in the investigation.
The ministry urged both Pakistan and India to exercise patience and pursue dialogue as the path to resolving outstanding issues between the two nations.
Earlier, during a telephonic conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Mr Wang expressed China's solidarity with Pakistan, stressing that combating terrorism is a shared responsibility of the international community.
Mr Dar briefed his Chinese counterpart on the evolving situation after the Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir, where 27 tourists were killed. He conveyed Pakistan’s firm opposition to terrorism in all its forms and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to preventing any escalation of tensions in the region.
