ISLAMABAD: Türkiye is ready to help restore a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan amid fierce clashes between the two neighboring states, according to a statement released by the authorities in Ankara on Tuesday after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over telephone.

The call came as Pakistani security officials reported heavy cross-border firing with Afghan forces in the Bazaar Zakhakhel area of Khyber district, highlighting the fragility of relations between the two countries.

Türkiye previously mediated talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan last year after major border skirmishes in October prompted Islamabad to close all crossing points for bilateral and transit trade.

Pakistan has frequently blamed Afghanistan for sheltering anti-Pakistan militant groups such as the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and facilitating their cross-border attacks. Islamabad has said it targeted militant hideouts on the Afghan side of the frontier last month after repeatedly taking up the issue with the administration in Kabul.

The Afghan Taliban, who have always denied Islamabad’s charges, launched what Pakistan called “unprovoked aggression” in support of militant entities.

“Türkiye will continue to stand by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and contribute to the re-establishment of the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached through Türkiye’s initiatives,” Erdoğan said during the call, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar earlier released figures related to his country’s military campaign against Afghanistan, saying 464 Taliban fighters had been killed since the beginning of the war and over 665 were injured.

He said Pakistani security forces had destroyed 188 Afghan check posts and captured 31. Additionally, they had targeted 56 locations across Afghanistan in aerial strikes.

According to Prime Minister Sharif’s social media message on X, he also discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East and apprised President Erdoğan of his country’s outreach to the Gulf leadership to reaffirm “Pakistan’s full solidarity with them.”

“We agreed that maximum restraint by all parties is imperative to prevent further escalation,” he added. “We also exchanged views on recent developments in Afghanistan and resolved to remain in close and frequent contact in our shared pursuit of peace and stability in the region.”