PM Shehbaz meets Turkish FM in Antalya ahead of diplomacy forum | The Express Tribune

An aide to United States President Donald Trump expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role in regional stability during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, amid active ongoing efforts to resolve tensions between the US and Iran. 

The prime minister arrived in Turkiye a day ago to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. He held a meeting with Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos on the event’s sidelines today.

“Massad Boulos conveyed greetings to the Prime Minister from President Donald Trump and appreciated Pakistan’s constructive contributions to regional stability. He also reiterated the United States’ interest in deepening engagement with Pakistan on shared priorities, including counter-terrorism, economic development and addressing global challenges,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

It said PM Shehbaz conveyed his “warm regards” for Trump, while “fondly recalling his own warm and cordial interactions” with him. The PMO said he “reiterated deep appreciation for President Trump’s bold and decisive leadership” that had led to the ceasefire between Pakistan and India last year.

“The prime minister lauded President Trump for his leadership that led to the successful conclusion of the ceasefire in Lebanon. The two sides also discussed current regional developments, including Pakistan’s peace efforts that led to the ceasefire as well as the historic Islamabad Talks. The prime minister emphasised the importance of strengthening Pakistan-US bilateral relations, especially economic and trade cooperation, as well as matters of mutual interest in multilateral diplomacy.”

The premier earlier met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan shortly after landing in Antalya, who thanked him for participating in the forum, saying President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan looked forward to meeting PM Shehbaz on the sidelines of the event, according to the PMO.

Deputy PM and FM Ishaq Dar, along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Syed Tariq Fatemi, were also present during the meeting.

PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by the Turkish leadership, describing Turkiye as his “second home” and terming it a pleasure to visit the country.

Meanwhile, FM Dar said it was a pleasure to meet Elmedin Konakovic, the foreign minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

He said both sides reaffirmed the strong historical bonds between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that the two countries had stood by each other in times of hardship and crisis.

Dar added that they also exchanged views on the latest regional developments and expressed his intention to work closely with Konakovic to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Dar similarly said he was pleased to meet Dr Khalilur Rahman, foreign minister of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen Pakistan–Bangladesh ties and exchanged views on regional developments, including Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue.

FM Dar added that he looked forward to continued positive and forward-looking engagement between the two countries.

Dar also met with Tahsin Ertugruloglu, foreign minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, particularly for education and welfare of the Pakistani diaspora in the TRNC. They also agreed to maintain close engagement and continue working together to promote the mutual benefit of their peoples.

FM Dar met Vice Minister for Strategy and Intelligence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Jeong Yeondoo, Radio Pakistan reported.

The two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and recent regional developments.

The vice minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in sustained diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The prime minister had earlier announced his arrival in the “beautiful and vibrant city of Antalya” at the invitation of President Erdoğan, adding that he looked forward to “meaningful engagements with fellow leaders as we work together to promote dialogue, deepen understanding, and advance lasting peace”.

The prime minister is scheduled to participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, including a leaders’ panel titled “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” where he will present Pakistan’s perspective on key global challenges.

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The prime minister is on a three-country tour until Friday, having earlier visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Pakistan continues diplomatic engagement amid efforts to help address the Middle East crisis affecting the wider region.

According to a statement from the PMO, upon arrival in Antalya, he was warmly received by Governor Hulusi Şahin, who welcomed the premier and his delegation at the airport.

He will also attend the forum’s opening ceremony and is expected to meet President Erdoğan and other world leaders during the event, which brings together policymakers to discuss pressing international issues.

A day earlier, the premier had reached Saudi Arabia, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah and expressed deep appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s continued support in strengthening Pakistan’s economic stability.

“The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening what was described as an ‘enduring partnership’ between Islamabad and Riyadh,” read a statement from the PMO.

The premier then made a stopover in Qatar as part of his three-nation tour, where he met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and urged de-escalation and dialogue for peace in the Middle East.

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The PMO said the two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations and explored ways to further strengthen ties, particularly in the fields of security, defence and energy, in a manner that enhances partnership and opens new avenues for cooperation.

The premier’s meeting with the Qatari emir came four days after the US and Iran were unable to reach an agreement to end their war despite marathon negotiations lasting around 21 hours. The prolonged talks, aimed at halting hostilities that have killed thousands and driven global oil prices higher over the past six weeks, ended with both sides blaming each other for the impasse.

On April 11, US and Iranian delegations arrived in Pakistan for conclusive talks following a two-week immediate ceasefire “everywhere, including Lebanon”, announced by PM Shehbaz, who later invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad.

The US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, killing thousands of people in Iran, including then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and leaving tens of thousands injured, with civilian areas, including residential buildings and religious sites, among those hit.

The conflict also expanded geographically. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. It also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.