Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held a significant meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Istanbul.

During the meeting, Deputy PM Dar conveyed warm greetings and a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to President Erdoğan. He reiterated Pakistan’s deep appreciation for its long-standing, brotherly ties with Türkiye, emphasizing the country’s commitment to further deepening and strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Both sides expressed a strong desire to diversify and deepen strategic relations, reaffirming their shared values and interests rooted in historical, cultural, and religious ties.

Condemnation of Israeli aggression and regional tensions

The Pakistani and Turkish leadership strongly condemned Israel’s continued attacks on Iran, describing them as a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter. They reiterated their full support for Iran’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and its right to self-defense under the UN Charter.

The two sides also expressed grave concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called for an immediate halt to Israeli aggression, while urging the international community to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian population.

Call for peace and diplomacy

In a joint stance on regional security, the leadership agreed to intensify diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and urged global powers to step up efforts for restoring peace and stability in the region.

Deputy Prime Minister Dar also congratulated President Erdoğan on receiving a prestigious award from the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, recognizing his leadership and Türkiye's successful hosting of the OIC Foreign Ministers' session.

Earlier on Saturday, Turkish President Erdogan expressed full confidence that Iran will emerge victorious amid rising tensions with Israel, calling the Netanyahu government the greatest threat to regional peace and stability.

Speaking at an emergency summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Erdogan likened Israel’s current actions to those of Nazi Germany under Hitler, warning that Tel Aviv’s policies are setting the region—and the world—on fire.

“We are confident that victory will be on Iran’s side,” Erdogan said, adding that “just as the spark ignited by Hitler 90 years ago set the world ablaze, Netanyahu’s Zionist ambitions serve no purpose other than dragging the world into disaster.”

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The Turkish leader voiced strong condemnation of the recent Israeli strikes on Iranian soil, calling them a blatant violation of international law. “Iran has the full right to defend itself,” he said, affirming Türkiye’s solidarity with Tehran. “We have no doubt that, with the solidarity it has shown and its deep-rooted state tradition, the Iranian people will overcome these difficult days.”

Erdogan further lambasted Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Gaza, now entering its 21st month. He accused Israeli forces of systematically targeting civilians, including children, and weaponising hunger. “Two million of our brothers and sisters in Gaza have been trying to survive under conditions worse than even the Nazi concentration camps,” he said.

He alleged that Israel is deliberately working to expand the scope of the conflict to the broader region. “Israel wants to set the entire region on fire,” Erdogan warned. “The Israeli Prime Minister’s government is the biggest obstacle to peace and stability in the region.”

He also pointed to Israeli operations in the West Bank, saying the “market of atrocities has heated up there as well.” He criticised the international community’s inaction, urging world powers and Muslim nations alike to take urgent steps to contain the violence. “I appeal to the international community to stop Israel so that the conflict does not spread further.”

In a broader regional context, Erdogan declared that Türkiye would not allow a “new Sykes-Picot order” to emerge in the Middle East, referring to the colonial-era agreement that carved up the region among European powers. “We will not permit a new map to be drawn in blood,” he said.

He also spoke of the need for unity among Muslim countries, suggesting that Istanbul and Tehran shared a “common destiny” and that the Islamic world must act as a united and independent center of power.

“We are on the threshold of an era in which the Islamic world will play a much greater global role. But first, we must resolve our internal disputes. If we do not claim our issues with unity and will, we only serve others’ interests.”