$900-million drones, 'Jihad deals' & backroom intel: How Turkey and Pakistan are bonding over anti-India sentiment

This handout photograph taken and released by Pakistan's Prime Minister Office on February 13, 2025 shows Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before inspecting a guard of honour during his ceremonial reception at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.

Pakistan and Turkey have entered a new strategic alliance centred on defence cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and security arrangements, designed to “do jihad against India,” according to a senior military official quoted by News18. The official states that the partnership includes $900 million in drone sales to Pakistan and more than 700 loitering munitions, as well as ambitious trade goals totalling $5 billion.

“While Pakistan is set to enter into deals worth $900 million for the latest spy drones from Turkish firms and get 700+ loitering munitions to boost its military surveillance, the two countries plan to boost their trade volume to $5 billion dollars,” said the source, as quoted by News18.

Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan and defence minister Yasar Guler held top-level meetings last week in Islamabad with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir, ISI head, and other national security leaders. According to News18, the talks focused on Pakistan purchasing Turkish-made drones – Bayraktar TB2s, Akinci UAVs, and loitering munitions, for around $900 million; intelligence sharing and security cooperation, targeting India; and boosting bilateral trade to reach $5 billion by end of 2025.

Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Pakistan officials claim these deals are secretive, while Sharif publicly aimed to attract Turkish investment in civilian sectors.

This relationship rings alarm bells in New Delhi. In May's ‘Operation Sindoor’, hundreds of Turkish-origin drones – Bayraktar TB2, YIHA‑III, and Songar models – were deployed by Pakistan. However, every drone was shot down by India’s air defence system, delivering a crippling blow to Turkish drone credibility.

Despite the setback, Pakistan continues to source Turkish UAVs. Recent intelligence confirms deals for 50 YIHA UAVs, 80 Kargi loitering munitions, and potential purchases of Bayraktar Akinci drones and Anka components. Turkey’s drone exports to Pakistan have surged, making it the country’s second-largest arms supplier after China.

Pakistan and Turkey are reinforcing a civil-military-security axis: drone deals, intelligence-sharing networks, and economic ties. Sharif’s call for $5 billion bilateral trade is meant to broaden the partnership beyond defence. Officials invited Turkish corporations to invest in Pakistan’s economy and support structural reforms.

This growing alliance between Turkey and Pakistan poses new challenges for India. Turkish drones are boosting Pakistan’s surveillance along the tense border, while advanced loitering munitions improve its strike capabilities. Strategically, India now faces a two-fold threat - a better-armed Pakistan and a Turkey whose foreign policy is increasingly leaning toward Islamabad.