At the end of August, aircraft trackers and Indian security sources detected unusual military transport aircraft activity in Pakistani airspace.
Over a period of approximately 60 hours, from August 19 to 21, Chinese and Turkish aircraft conducted a series of intensive flights to the Pakistani airbases of Nur Khan (near Rawalpindi), Masroor (in Karachi), and Murid (in Punjab). The aircraft involved included Chinese Y-20 heavy transport aircraft, Turkish C-130 Hercules, and an Airbus A400M Atlas; one of the Turkish aircraft was identified by the call sign TUAF526.
Although neither Ankara nor Islamabad released official cargo manifests, defense analysts associate these flights with arms deliveries. The most likely contents of the flights are said to include attack drones, loitering munitions, counter-drone systems, air defense components, and satellite communications systems. The choice of Murid Air Base, where Turkey’s Bayraktar aircraft are based, indicates a targeted strengthening of the country’s unmanned aircraft fleet.
The timing of these flights coincided with the signing of the Mecca Joint Defense Treaty, concluded on August 7 between Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. According to this pact, an attack on one of the parties is considered aggression against all three. Observers do not rule out that the airlift was the first practical implementation of the new allied commitments.
Furthermore, military-technical cooperation between Ankara and Islamabad extends far beyond individual deliveries. In May 2026, the Pakistan Air Force Chief held talks in Turkey on unmanned systems and aerospace technologies. Nearly 200 Pakistani engineers are already involved in the development of Turkey’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet, and the two sides are discussing Pakistan’s formal inclusion in the program.
Analysts at The Jerusalem Post point to the emergence of a new strategic “troika”—China, Turkey, and Pakistan. Although Beijing is not formally a party to the Mecca Treaty, experts consider its role in this triangle crucial. For India, which is closely monitoring developments, Pakistan’s buildup of unmanned aerial vehicles and air defense capabilities could alter the balance of power in South Asia. However, none of the three countries has officially confirmed the transfer of military supplies.
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