Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, beginning a two-day official visit to Türkiye as part of a four-nation tour.
The Premier was received at the airport by Turkish Minister of Defence Yashar Guler, Istanbul Deputy Governor Erdogan Turan Ermis, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye Yousaf Junaid, Consul General Nouman Aslam, and senior Turkish and Pakistani officials.
During the visit, PM Shehbaz is scheduled to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with discussions expected to focus on deepening bilateral cooperation in defence, trade, tourism, and cultural ties, according to officials.
The visit is also aimed at expressing Pakistan’s appreciation for Türkiye’s support during recent tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. Turkish leadership publicly backed Pakistan’s stance during the conflict, according to Pakistani officials.
Photo: PID
PM is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
From May 25 to 30, the Prime Minister will visit Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.
During the tour, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will hold extensive discussions with the leadership of these countries on bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues of mutual concern. He will also express Pakistan’s gratitude for the support extended by these friendly nations during the recent crisis with India.
On May 29–30, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in the International Conference on Glaciers to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Turkey and Azerbaijan voiced support for Pakistan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to express solidarity following India's missile strikes on Pakistani territory.
During the conversation, Erdoğan praised Pakistan’s calm and measured response to the escalating tensions and endorsed Islamabad’s call for an investigation into the April 22 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead. Pakistan denied any involvement in the incident.
According to the Turkish presidency, Erdoğan described Pakistan’s position as appropriate and assured that Turkey would continue diplomatic efforts to help prevent further escalation. Turkey had also condemned India’s military action and warned it could lead to a wider conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The government of Azerbaijan also expressed strong support for Pakistan. In an official letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Azerbaijan condemned India’s recent military actions and voiced concern over the rising tensions.
The message was delivered by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, who conveyed his government’s solidarity with Pakistan during the crisis. Azerbaijan extended condolences to the families of those affected and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
The Azerbaijani government also called for resolving the conflict through diplomatic channels and reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation and support for Pakistan.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ