PM Shehbaz departs for Iran following two-day trip to Türkiye
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Iran on Monday following the conclusion of his two-day official visit to Turkiye.
During his visit to Turkiye, the prime minister conveyed Pakistan's gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish people for their unwavering support during recent regional tensions with India.
The prime minister lauded Turkiye's principled stance and the outpouring of goodwill of the Turkish people for Pakistan. He described it as "a source of great comfort and strength" for Pakistan, the statement added.
He was seen off at the Istanbul airport by Turkish Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Ilker Haktankacmaz, and President of the Pakistan-Türkiye Cultural Association Burhan Kayaturk. Also present were Ambassador Yousaf Junaid, Consul General Nauman Aslam, Turkish officials, and members of the Pakistan Embassy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz is on a six-day diplomatic tour of Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, as Pakistan seeks to bolster regional partnerships following recent tensions with India.
The Foreign Office earlier said the prime minister is holding wide-ranging talks with the leadership of all four countries. He is also conveying Pakistan's appreciation for their support during the recent escalation.
The trip began in Turkiye and concludes in Tajikistan, where the prime minister will attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe on May 29–30.
The prime minister is expected to meet Iranian leadership upon his arrival in Tehran to continue diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Previously, Pakistan had welcomed the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and expressed no objection to Tehran acting as a mediator between Islamabad and New Delhi to help ease escalating tensions.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi had travelled to Islamabad on an unscheduled visit as part of Iran's efforts to promote de-escalation between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
During the visit, the Iranian diplomat had held formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, and also met separately with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
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