( Asghar Ali Mubarak )
ISLAMABAD (TNS) Pakistan stands as a reliable force for peace and shared prosperity. The Prime Minister of Pakistan visited 4 countries in 5 days, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, but the vision remained the same,
He also thanked the friendly countries for the support extended to Pakistan during the recent crisis with India. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s dynamic diplomatic tour of Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan demonstrated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to regional ties, economic harmony and strategic alliance.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was accompanied by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi during his four-nation visit to Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. During the visit to Tajikistan, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, in which the Prime Minister discussed with the Tajik President the cooperation between the two countries in various fields and He thanked the Tajik President for Tajikistan’s strong support for Pakistan during the recent tensions between India and Pakistan in the South Asian region.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif attended the high-level international conference on glacier conservation held in Dushanbe during his visit, in which the Prime Minister apprised the participants about the impact of climate change on Pakistan and Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to protecting it from climate change and protecting glaciers.
In the meeting between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the leaders discussed the promotion of cooperation in various fields and regional and global issues.
The Prime Minister also apprised the Tajik President of the latest situation in South Asia and said that the Indian aggression against Pakistan was an act of war. The international community should hold India accountable for its irresponsible behavior. Pakistan wants peace in the region, will protect its territorial sovereignty and integrity at all costs, and the Kashmir issue will have to be resolved in accordance with the Security Council resolutions.
During his visit to Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, attended the Pakistan-Turkey-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit and participated in the Independence Day ceremony of Azerbaijan.
It may be recalled that during the tripartite meeting during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev had announced an investment of $2 billion in Pakistan.
Addressing the trilateral meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that India wants to stop Pakistan’s water, which will never happen. Water is Pakistan’s lifeline. India’s threat to stop Pakistan’s water is unacceptable under any circumstances.
It may be recalled that earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif completed his visit to Iran, during which the Prime Minister met with senior officials including Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Masoud Peshkian. In the meetings between the Prime Minister and Iranian leaders, Pakistan-Iran relations, especially trade and the promotion of regional ties, were discussed, while Iran’s efforts during the war imposed on Pakistan by India were appreciated. In addition, the meetings discussed strengthening strategic relations and the immediate prevention of the ongoing Zionist atrocities in Gaza.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Turkey in the first leg of his four-nation tour. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan along with his delegation. Upon his arrival at the Dolmabahce Palace, Turkish President Erdogan gave a warm welcome to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi were also present. The meeting reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan and also discussed cooperation within the framework of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council established between the two countries.
Press coverage was not allowed for the meeting between the leaders. On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Field Marshal Asim Munir and a delegation, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Prime Minister expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Turkish government and people for their support for Pakistan during the recent Indian tensions and developments in South Asia.
After arriving in Turkey, the Prime Minister, along with Field Marshal Asim Munir, reached the Presidential Palace in Dolmabahce to meet the Turkish President, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warmly welcomed the guests upon arrival. The two leaders met at the level of delegations at the Presidential Palace.The delegation also included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi.
The leaders’ meeting reaffirmed the long-standing, historical and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkey, which are based on shared values, mutual respect and a shared vision of progress and prosperity.
The Prime Minister expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Turkish government and people for their support for Pakistan during the recent Indian tensions and developments in South Asia, while describing Turkey’s principled stance and the goodwill of the Turkish people as a source of satisfaction and strength for Pakistan.
In the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the determination, bravery, sacrifice of the Pakistani forces in the “Battle of Truth” and “Operation Bunyan Marsus” in defense of the homeland, and the unparalleled patriotism of the people, while emphasizing the need to further strengthen economic cooperation, especially joint projects and the promotion of bilateral investments.
Similarly, renewable energy, information technology, defense production, infrastructure and agriculture, among other sectors, were identified as areas of mutual interest and potential.
The two leaders reviewed the comprehensive development of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to take the strategic partnership to greater heights. The Turkish President and the Prime Minister also reviewed the progress made on the decisions taken at the seventh meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held in Islamabad, while the two countries agreed on measures to achieve the target of annual bilateral trade of $5 billion.
Regional and global issues were also discussed in the meeting, while the two leaders reiterated their principled support for each other’s core interests, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Shahbaz Sharif and Erdogan expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and uninterrupted provision of humanitarian aid to the affected Palestinian population, with the resolve to further deepen multilateral cooperation between the two countries. The leaders pledged to continue close cooperation for regional peace, sustainable development and the shared prosperity of their nations, while Turkish President Erdogan also hosted a dinner in honor of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his delegation