ISLAMABAD: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday urged Pakistan and India to pursue “meaningful and efficient dialogue” to avoid future conflict, warning that an air war between the neighbors earlier this year highlighted the “severe” risks of escalation between two nuclear-armed states. 

In May 2025, the most intense India–Pakistan military confrontation in decades erupted following an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people. New Delhi, without providing evidence, said Islamabad was behind the assault, which denies the charge.

India responded on May 7 by launching a series of airstrikes targeting what it called suspected militant infrastructure in Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated with its own drone, artillery, and missile strikes. After four days of hostilities, a US-mediated ceasefire was agreed on May 10, halting the confrontation amid global alarm over the risk of escalation.

“In April-May, there has been tension experienced between Pakistan and India, which we closely followed, and all the international society has seen the wisdom-oriented and calm attitude of Pakistan,” Fidan said during a press conference in Islamabad.

“This tension has been an important indicator that when two nuclear powers come face to face that this is going to have very severe results,” he added. 

“We have actually seen this ceasefire as an important decision, and in order to eliminate similar tensions, we believe that there has to be meaningful and efficient dialogue between the parties. As Turkiye, we’re always ready to support this so that there will be peace and there will not be any clashes.”

Fidan, along with the Turkish defense minister, is visiting Pakistan as part of efforts to deepen bilateral ties and discuss regional security challenges, including the ongoing war in Gaza and rising tensions in the Middle East after Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and other targets last month.

“Unfortunately, the attacks have actually shaken the trust first toward the international regime on the prevention of nuclear expansions, and we have actually conveyed our messages to the parties [US, Iran] for the restart of the nuclear negotiations,” Fidan said.

“We’re in constant contact with Pakistan, and both countries are contacting both parties of the conflict. Turkiye believes that there has to be peaceful resolutions through negotiations, and we will continue to have a constructive contribution to this.”

Commenting on the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023, Fidan said Turkiye condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks and supported an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

“Israel attacks are, and aggressions are, not just a risk for our region but for the whole world. At this current status quo, we do hope that the ceasefire will be permanent,” he said.

He added that the Israeli strikes on Iran had diverted international attention from what he described as the “massacre in Gaza and the genocide in Gaza.”

“Today, we [Turkiye and Pakistan] also discussed about the joint steps that we can take for our Palestinian brothers,” Fidan said.

“Within this plan, the Israel attacks and aggression should end, and we hope that peace will be brought to Gaza and calm will be established. We will continue to support the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause.”