ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, initiating a three-nation diplomatic tour that will also include visits to Qatar and Türkiye from April 15 to 18, according to the Foreign Office.
The visit comes at a critical time as Pakistan intensifies its diplomatic engagement to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. During his stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the prime minister is expected to hold high-level meetings with leadership to discuss bilateral cooperation, as well as regional peace and security.
In Türkiye, PM Shehbaz will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he is scheduled to join a Leaders’ Panel alongside global figures and present Pakistan’s perspective on key international issues. On the sidelines, he is also expected to meet Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other world leaders. The diplomatic tour follows Pakistan’s recent role in hosting high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad—marking their first direct engagement in over a decade and the most significant dialogue since the Iranian Revolution.
Although the 21-hour negotiations concluded without a formal agreement, they took place shortly after a ceasefire aimed at ending weeks of intense conflict in the Gulf. However, tensions remain high, particularly following reports of a potential U.S. maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports, which could jeopardize the fragile truce.
A second round of U.S.-Iran talks is expected to be held in Islamabad in the coming days. The prime minister is accompanied by senior officials, including Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi.
