ISLAMABAD, Monday, May 12, 2025 (WNP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to regional peace, asserting that while the country desires stability in South Asia, it would never accept any breach of its sovereignty or territorial integrity.

Speaking during a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu, who called on him in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said Pakistan’s decision to endorse the latest ceasefire understanding with India was rooted in its principled stance for peace. “We want peace, not submission,” he remarked, emphasizing Pakistan’s responsible approach to the recent crisis.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep appreciation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for standing in firm solidarity with Pakistan during the recent regional tensions.

“President Erdogan’s unwavering support once again demonstrated his deep affection for the people of Pakistan,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying. He also lauded the people of Turkiye for their consistent backing of Pakistan, describing their solidarity as a “new and glorious chapter” in the two nations’ time-tested brotherly relations.

The Prime Minister paid rich tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces for their decisive performance in “Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos,” which, he said, successfully neutralized enemy threats and thwarted hostile designs. “The nation is grateful to the Almighty for this historic victory,” he added.

On bilateral ties, Shehbaz Sharif voiced satisfaction over the growing momentum in Pakistan-Turkiye relations, particularly following President Erdogan’s visit to Islamabad in February and his own trip to Ankara in April.

He underscored the importance of swift implementation of decisions made during high-level meetings between the two sides and proposed convening the bilateral Joint Commission at the foreign minister level at the earliest opportunity.

Ambassador Neziroglu, congratulating the Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan on their diplomatic and military achievements, said Turkiye stood in full support of Pakistan’s pursuit of peace and stability.

He noted that President Erdogan remained keen to deepen bilateral cooperation across all sectors and that high-level institutional engagements between the two nations would continue to advance shared goals.