Amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions and the looming threat of war, the arrival of a Turkish C-130E military transport aircraft in Pakistan has triggered speculation that one of Islamabad’s closest allies might have made an urgent arms delivery to the country.
Multiple reports circulating on social media claimed that a Turkish C-130E Hercules landed in Karachi, allegedly to deliver military equipment. The reports were based on flight-tracking data published by open-source intelligence (OSINT) trackers. The aircraft was seen flying over the Arabian Sea on April 28.
Some reports in the Indian media went on to claim that six, and not one, C-130Es landed in Pakistan. The speculation sparked a storm on X, with several Indian academicians, military analysts, geopolitical experts, and netizens expressing alarm over the development.
However, the claims were refuted by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. “A cargo plane from Türkiye landed in Pakistan for refueling. It then continued on its route. Speculative news made outside of the statements of authorized persons and institutions should not be relied upon.”
The Pahalgam terror attack has triggered a fresh spate of tensions between India and Pakistan, with clouds of a potential war looming large over the South Asian subcontinent.
Fearing an attack from the Indian military (as seen in the past after the Uri and Pulwama terror attacks in Kashmir), the Pakistani military remains on high alert.
Latest reports and visuals on social media indicate that it has started moving military equipment in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir region and activated its Pensi, Skardu, and Swat air bases.
Notably, the reports about Turkey delivering military cargo to Pakistan come after similar reports hinting that China is delivering the PL-15 long-range missile to Pakistan. Beijing has not commented on the reports so far.
Turkey, like China, is a close ally of Pakistan. The two countries have strong military cooperation, based on their shared vision of assuming leadership in the Islamic world.
Turkey has expressed support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. In February 2025, following his talks with Shahbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a UN dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue. Separately, just hours after the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif thanked Turkey for its “unwavering support” on Kashmir during a meeting with Erdoğan in Ankara.
While this does not automatically confirm a Turkish arms shipment, the speculation aligns with the fact that the diplomatic and military ties between the two allies remain ‘very strong’.
Pakistan-Turkey Defense Relations
Pakistan and Turkey are close allies. In 2021, the two states signed a formal agreement to enhance defense cooperation through joint arms manufacturing and have since made concerted efforts to increase engagement and collaboration.
According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) report published in March 2025, 10% of Turkey’s total arms shipments went to Pakistan between 2020 and 2024.
Drones
Turkey has established itself as a leading player in the global market for armed drones. Pakistan has purchased Bayraktar TB2 drones and Akinci drones from Turkey in the last couple of years. Of these, the TB2 rose to global prominence following their combat success in conflicts such as the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, where Azerbaijan used them effectively against Armenian forces.
In 2023, Pakistan also received its first batch of Bayraktar Akinci combat drones from Turkey. The Akinci, meaning “Raider” in Turkish, is a High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, equipped with a diverse range of missiles.
It is pertinent to note that Pakistan has been focusing on incorporating drones into its military strategy. It has expanded its drone operations and has carried out numerous strikes against militant organizations not only within its borders but also across regional theaters, including Afghanistan.
Combat Aircraft
Besides drones, Pakistan and Turkey are collaborating on the fifth-generation KAAN aircraft. The two sides discussed the potential export of Turkey’s KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet to the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) during the eighth Pak-Turk Industrial Expo Joint Working Group meeting, held in Pakistan earlier this year.
Reports indicate that the two allies were reportedly set to establish and operate a joint factory to produce the KAAN fighter jet.
In addition to exploring the potential export of KAAN to Pakistan, both nations are reportedly also discussing the design and co-development of a new helicopter.
Turkey has also assisted Pakistan in upgrading its F-16 fighter jets. Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense awarded TAI a contract worth US$75 million in 2009 to upgrade the avionics and structural systems of 41 PAF F-16s, extending their operational life and improving their capabilities.
The deal also covered pilot training on the improved aircraft. Ankara delivered the last four upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in 2014.
Additionally, the PAF was believed to be converting its lone Bombardier Global 6000 into a stand-off jamming (SOJ) aircraft with the assistance of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Munitions
Pakistan has purchased munitions for different platforms from Turkey. Reports in November 2023 indicated that Pakistan was buying anti-tank guided weapon systems (ATGWs) from Turkish Rokestan.
While the names of these missiles were not disclosed, Rokestan manufactures Karaok, Omtas, and Umtas. The co-production of the ATGMs was also on the cards, according to reports.
Islamabad has reportedly purchased the Turkish Kemankeş cruise missiles from the Turkish company Baykar for the UAVs it has purchased. Characterised by its AI system, the missile can reportedly be integrated with both TB2 and Akinci drones.
Additionally, the two sides are believed to be collaborating on the development of air-to-air missiles, including both short-range and beyond-visual-range (BVR) variants. Under this partnership, missiles such as Pakistan’s FAZ-2 and Turkey’s Gökdoğan are being developed, and a technology exchange is taking place.
Ships For the Pakistan Navy
Pakistan has also acquired four MILGEM-class corvettes, the most technologically advanced surface platforms constructed for the Pakistan Navy. The last of the four corvettes, PNS Tariq (283), was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in August 2023.
Turkey has also upgraded Pakistan’s Agosta 90B-class submarines, and the two sides were previously known to be discussing the joint development of new submarines, including nuclear-powered submarines.
The modernization included comprehensive enhancements to vital systems, such as radar, periscopes, command and control, data distribution, steering control, cooling, and sonar.
In addition to the above, Turkey delivered a fleet tanker to the Pakistan Navy, which is the largest ship in the Pakistani Navy. Known as PNS Moawin, the tanker was designed by the Turkish firm, STM, and constructed by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works in Karachi, Pakistan.
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