When a Pitstop Becomes Propaganda: Turkiye Refuels, Pakistan Celebrates Fictional Arms Drop

In what appears to be yet another delusional fantasy cooked up in the propaganda kitchens of Islamabad, reports had recently surfaced suggesting that Türkiye had sent six aircraft loaded with weapons to support Pakistan. The truth, however, as clarified by Türkiye itself, is far less dramatic—and far more embarrassing for those pushing the story.

The Turkish Directorate of Communications, in an official statement shared on April 28, shut down the misleading claims with a firm and unequivocal response: “The claims circulating in some media outlets that ‘Türkiye sent six planes full of weapons to Pakistan’ are not true.” According to Turkish authorities, the so-called "arms-laden fleet" was actually a single transport aircraft making a routine refueling stop in Pakistan before continuing its journey. Yes, just refueling. No missiles. No crates of Kalashnikovs. Not even a box of screws.

But trust Pakistan’s media machinery to turn a mundane fuel stop into a high-stakes arms deal.

This clarification came at a time when India was rightly outraged over reports suggesting a foreign hand in arming its hostile neighbor—especially in the aftermath of the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. The attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent people, was carried out by The Resistance Front, a well-known proxy outfit of the globally designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which operates freely in Pakistan with the apparent blessings of the state.

In the middle of the mourning and fury, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chose the perfect time (read: the most insensitive and ill-timed moment) to bring up the Kashmir issue during his official visit to Ankara. In a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Sharif expressed his gratitude for Türkiye’s "unwavering support" on Kashmir—because, of course, scoring political points is more important than condemning terrorism.

While India dealt with the aftermath of the brutal attack and honored its victims, Pakistan seemed more concerned with scoring brownie points on international platforms and using every tragedy as a soapbox to peddle its tired narrative on Kashmir. It’s almost as if Islamabad believes the world has forgotten its role as the safe haven for the very terror groups that continuously destabilize the region.

In India, citizens reacted swiftly to the initial reports of Turkish support to Pakistan, with many calling for a boycott of Turkish tourism and airlines. Hashtags trended, calls for economic countermeasures were raised, and public sentiment turned sharply against Türkiye—until Ankara clarified that no such military cooperation had occurred.

To its credit, Türkiye did the responsible thing and distanced itself from the Pakistani fantasy. The swift rebuttal to the misinformation reflects Türkiye’s apparent desire to avoid becoming collateral damage in South Asia’s increasingly dangerous geopolitical drama. Still, the damage caused by the rumor mill—most likely powered by Islamabad’s spin doctors—was significant.

Let’s be clear: the real issue is not just about six fictional planes. It’s about Pakistan’s persistent use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, its diplomatic duplicity, and its ongoing obsession with Kashmir even as it burns from within. No amount of imagined international support or propaganda-laden press conferences can cover up the reality on the ground—India is not only defending its borders but also exposing the rot that has set in across the border.

As for Türkiye, perhaps next time it will choose its airport refueling partners more carefully. After all, when you land in Pakistan, you may leave with more rumors than jet fuel.

Tags:  #pakistan, #india, #pahalgamattack