Pakistan PM on regional diplomacy tour of Turkiye, Iran and Central Asia after India standoff
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday embarked on a five-day tour of Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to thank their leadership for supporting Islamabad during this month's military conflict with India, Sharif's office said.
Pakistan and India this month traded missile, drone and artillery strikes for days, killing around 70 people on both sides, before agreeing to a United States-brokered ceasefire on May 10. The conflict, the worst between the neighbors in decades, was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denies complicity.
During the standoff, several friendly nations supported Pakistan's demand for a credible, international probe into the attack as they urged the nuclear-armed archfoes to exercise restraint and avoid miscalculation of the other's military capabilities.
On Sunday, Sharif left for Turkiye on the first leg of his four-nation tour, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
'During the tour, the prime minister will have wide-ranging discussions with the leaders of these countries on an entire range of issues covering bilateral relations and matters of regional and international importance,' Sharif's office said.
'He will thank friendly countries for the support they have given to Pakistan during the recent crisis with India.'
Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety but rule it in part. The conflict had raised fears that it could spiral into a full-blown war.
Both countries have separately announced sending delegations to key capitals and friendly countries to present their stance on this month's standoff before the world, in a bid to gain world support.
During his visit aimed at furthering Pakistan's diplomatic outreach, Sharif will also attend an International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on May 29-30, according to the Sharif's office.
The conference aims to advance global efforts in climate adaptation and resilience, with a specific focus on addressing glacial melting.
Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing numerous impacts like rising temperatures and increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Officials say unusually high temperatures in Pakistan's northern areas have resulted in rapid melting of glaciers, warning that the prolonged phenomenon could lead to water shortages and threaten lives in the long run.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
In meeting with US lawmakers, Pakistani delegation says Delhi resisting dialogue with Islamabad
KARACHI: A Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met a group of American lawmakers on Thursday, telling them that India is consistently resisting dialogue to resolve bilateral issues. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set up the delegation last month, tasking it to present Pakistan's point of view regarding the country's conflict with India last month. India and Pakistan last month engaged in four days of fighting, striking each other with missiles, drones, artillery and fighter jets before Washington brokered a ceasefire on May 10. Bhutto Zardari's delegation has held a series of meetings with top international diplomats since arriving in New York on Monday, urging the global community to help India and Pakistan enter a comprehensive dialogue to peacefully resolve their differences. On Thursday the delegation met members of the US Congressional Pakistan Caucus in Washington. These included Republican party leaders Jack Bergman and Ryan Zinke and Democratic leaders Tom Suozzi and Ilhan Omar, among others. 'Pakistan remains committed to peace, but sadly, India consistently resists dialogue,' Bhutto Zardari was quoted as saying by Bilawal House, his official residence. The former foreign minister criticized India's decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan. 'India has weaponized water, endangering the future of not only Pakistan but the entire region,' he said. He warned that if Indian hostility is not curbed in time, it could 'seriously jeopardize regional peace.' The Pakistani politician reaffirmed his country's desire for constructive engagement based on mutual respect and peaceful resolution of disputes, the statement said. 'The members of Congress welcomed the delegation, listened carefully to Pakistan's concerns, and expressed willingness to strengthen bilateral engagement and regional stability,' the statement concluded. Tensions between the arch-rivals began on April 22 when militants attacked a resort in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam area, killing 26 tourists. India blamed Pakistan for supporting militants involved in the attack, a charge Pakistan vehemently denied and called for a transparent, international probe into the incident. Pakistan and India, bitter rivals, have fought two out of three wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir that they both claim in full but govern only parts of. India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants in the part of Kashmir it administers. Islamabad denies the allegation and says it extends only diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump signs new travel ban targeting 12 countries after Colorado protest attack
In this episode of W News, presented by Leigh-Ann Gerrans, we report on US President Donald Trump signing a new travel ban set to take effect Monday. The measure targets 12 countries – including Afghanistan, Iran, and Yemen –and follows a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado. Authorities say the suspect was in the US illegally. We also report on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's claim that NATO allies are close to meeting Trump's demand for a sharp rise in defense spending, with a deal expected ahead of this month's summit. Guests: Sara Firth – Correspondent James Jackson – Journalist Jim Townsend – Former Pentagon official
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Egypt's cautious rapprochement with Iran
Egypt-Iran relations are undergoing a notable transformation after decades of tension and estrangement. Regional and international pressures are pushing both countries to reassess their political and strategic priorities. The repeated visits of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Cairo — most recently early this week — signal the emergence of a new phase in the relationship, moving beyond the long-standing diplomatic freeze and toward a potential reshaping of influence dynamics in the region. Since diplomatic ties were severed in 1979 following Egypt's peace treaty with Israel, Cairo and Tehran have found themselves on opposing sides of most regional issues. But in recent years, major shifts have occurred. The Chinese-brokered agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the normalization of Iranian ties with the UAE and Turkiye's increased openness to Tehran have softened the region's traditional resistance to engaging Iran. As a result, one of the key constraints on Egypt's Iran policy has largely dissipated. Egypt faces overlapping domestic and external challenges: a deepening economic crisis, growing security threats in the Red Sea and a diminishing regional role in key conflicts like Yemen, Syria and Palestine. Iran, meanwhile, is under intense Western pressure over its nuclear program, while its influence in Syria and Lebanon is slowly eroding. It is actively seeking new pathways to reposition itself in the regional order. These converging dynamics have made rapprochement not only possible, but necessary — a strategic adjustment more than an ideological shift. Direct engagement with Tehran could be a key to stabilizing one of Egypt's most vital economic arteries. Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy Araghchi's latest visit to Cairo included meetings with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, as well as a tripartite meeting with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The visit clearly went beyond symbolic diplomacy, delving into sensitive topics such as regional security, nuclear negotiations and the future of Gaza. The cultural dimension of the visit was equally significant. Araghchi toured Cairo's historic Khan El-Khalili district and visited the Imam Hussein Mosque, which he has frequented during prior trips. These gestures reflected a broader Iranian desire to build not just diplomatic but also religious and cultural bridges with Egypt, reframing the relationship not as one between two rival states, but as one between two core civilizations in the Islamic world. Security is at the forefront of the motivations behind this rapprochement. Egypt has suffered financial losses due to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, resulting in a sharp decline in Suez Canal revenues. Given Iran's influence over the Houthis, direct engagement with Tehran could be a key to stabilizing one of Egypt's most vital economic arteries. Economic concerns also play a central role. Under Western sanctions, Iran is searching for new trade partners. Egypt, in the midst of its own economic hardship, could benefit from Iranian energy (transferred via Iraq) and expanded trade, assuming restrictions on Iran are eased. Strategically, Egypt is looking to reassert its role as a regional mediator, especially due to its reduced influence in the Syrian and Yemeni files. Engaging Iran offers an opportunity to reaffirm Cairo's independent foreign policy and reestablish a strategic presence in the evolving regional order. The Gaza conflict further increases the necessity of alignment between regional powers. Iran maintains ties with key Palestinian factions, while Egypt plays the principal role in mediation. Coordination between the two is becoming increasingly vital. This rapprochement is not a sudden development but a calculated response to a shifting geopolitical landscape. Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy Despite this momentum, Egypt remains cautious. The restoration of full diplomatic relations has not been announced and the two countries continue to operate through interests sections. Cairo is taking a step-by-step approach. This caution stems from multiple considerations. Egypt's close relations with the US, Israel and the Gulf require a delicate balancing act. A too-rapid rapprochement with Iran could jeopardize these strategic alliances. Arab public opinion remains wary of Iran's actions in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Egypt is also concerned about the potential for Iran to export its ideology through nonstate actors, especially in fragile Arab states. Looking ahead, the outlook is positive but conditional. Both sides have expressed interest in launching a structured political dialogue and expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and tourism. Should nuclear negotiations lead to the lifting of sanctions on Iran, Egypt could benefit from Iranian oil via Iraq and strengthen the role of the Suez Canal as a primary route for energy exports. Iran, for its part, sees value in cultivating a nonaligned partner like Egypt, one that is capable of balancing Tehran's relationships with the Gulf, Turkiye and Israel. This rapprochement is not a sudden development but a calculated response to a shifting geopolitical landscape. Iran can no longer afford to ignore Egypt in its regional calculus and Egypt cannot rebuild its regional weight without engaging all relevant players, including Tehran. As traditional alliances falter and new power structures emerge, Cairo and Tehran appear to be cautiously preparing to open a new chapter. Their relationship will be shaped by pragmatism and guided by mutual interest. If no major disruptions occur, this evolving partnership could reshape the political balance of the Middle East for years to come.
