Will the self-declared ‘big brother’ of the Muslim world save the Pak–Afghan crisis?

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (President of Republic of Turkey) stepped forward Wednesday as a would-be mediator between Pakistan and Afghanistan, offering to help restore a ceasefire as cross-border fighting between the two neighbours entered its sixth day and heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. Turkey’s mediation push also reflects Erdogan’s ambition to position Ankara as a “big brother of the Muslim world.”

During a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Erdogan “condemned the terror attacks carried out in Pakistan” and said Turkey would help restore the “ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan.” According to the Turkish presidency, Ankara is ready to “contribute to the re-establishment of the ceasefire” previously arranged through its diplomatic efforts.

Sharif’s office, however, offered a more cautious description of the conversation. It said the two leaders “exchanged views on recent developments” in Afghanistan and agreed to remain in close contact in pursuit of peace and stability in the region, without directly confirming Erdogan’s mediation proposal.

Kabul has not publicly responded. Afghan authorities have previously accused Pakistan of killing civilians in airstrikes in provinces including Nangarhar and Kandahar, allegations Islamabad denies.

The latest escalation began after Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting suspected militant camps linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and the regional branch of the Islamic State. Afghan forces later launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani border positions, triggering days of heavy shelling along the frontier.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, warned that lasting peace depends on the Afghan Taliban severing ties with militants targeting Pakistan and said Islamabad would take “all necessary measures” against threats originating from Afghan territory.

The violence effectively collapsed a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October, followed by talks in Istanbul that failed to produce a lasting settlement.

Casualty claims remain sharply disputed. Afghan officials say their forces killed about 150 Pakistani soldiers while losing 28 troops, while Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said “481 Afghan troops had been killed in six days.”

The United Nations confirmed at least 42 civilians killed and more than 100 wounded.