Karachi: In a significant development amid ongoing India-Pakistan tensions, the Turkish Navy warship TCG Büyükada has arrived at Karachi Port, marking a step toward enhanced naval cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan.

The Pakistan Navy confirmed the arrival on Sunday, stating that the vessel was given a warm welcome by senior naval officials. The visit, according to the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of the Pakistan Navy, is seen as a move to deepen strategic and maritime ties between the two nations.

TCG Büyükada (F-512), an Ada-class anti-submarine warfare corvette, is expected to remain in Karachi for several days. During its stay, crew members from the Turkish vessel will engage in joint activities and exchanges with personnel from the Pakistan Navy.

The visit comes amid recent speculation that Turkey had supplied weapons to Pakistan, a claim Ankara has firmly denied. Turkish authorities clarified that their aircraft had only made stopovers in Pakistan for refuelling purposes, and any link to arms transfers was baseless.

Named after Büyükada Island near Istanbul, TCG Büyükada is the second ship in the Turkish Navy’s Ada-class series, part of the domestically developed MILGEM (National Ship) project. The vessel was constructed at the Tuzla Naval Shipyard, laid down in January 2008, launched in September 2011, and commissioned into service in 2013. Its sister ship is TCG Heybeliada.