The Office of the President of Turkey announced that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister to address and prevent the ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to the statement, Erdoğan is attempting to stop the ongoing fighting and establish a ceasefire between the two countries. The Turkish president’s office added that Erdoğan will assist in re-establishing the ceasefire, which was previously initiated through Turkey’s efforts.
Analysts say that if Turkey, regional countries, and the Islamic world genuinely commit, they could end the clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Political analyst Shahzada Masood stated:
“Previously, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia made such attempts, but Pakistan still violated international law by attacking Afghan territory, and the aggression continues. I believe if major regional powers like Russia and China, along with Islamic countries, put pressure on Pakistan, this war could stop.”
The Afghan government has also welcomed mediation efforts by other countries, stating that Moscow, Beijing, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have reached out for mediation and that they do not want the war to continue.
Deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Hamdullah Fetrat, said:
“Some countries, such as China, Russia, Britain, and the EU, have contacted us to end the conflict. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is also not a proponent of war.”
Experts, however, argue that Turkey alone cannot resolve the issue, as Pakistan’s aggression and the instability in Afghanistan are driven by Western-backed projects. They say the only solution is international pressure on Islamabad to restrain Pakistan.
Political analyst Toriyali Zazi added:
“Although President Erdoğan has expressed his intention to mediate a ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan, it will not help because Pakistan acts as a proxy for other countries. As long as those countries support Pakistan, the attacks will continue.”
Other analysts note that Pakistan may not have control over its current actions. Countries seeking peace between Afghanistan and Pakistan must first ensure that Pakistan is genuinely committed to peace and regional norms.
Political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazi said:
“Previously, Turkey and Qatar tried mediation, but Pakistan’s illegitimate demands and lack of authority caused the efforts to fail. Any mediation this time must assess whether Pakistan has the power and willingness to accept it.”
It has been a week since the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan began. Official figures indicate that over 150 Pakistani soldiers have been killed, more than 200 injured, and dozens of military posts captured by Afghan forces.
In response, Pakistani forces have targeted Afghan civilians with rocket and air strikes, resulting in at least 110 deaths, 123 injuries, complete destruction of 37 homes, and partial damage to 316 others.
