ANTALYA, Friday, April 17, 2026 (WNP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya.
The meeting, held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and senior Turkish officials were also present.
President Erdoğan welcomed the Prime Minister to Türkiye and thanked him for participating in the forum, which has emerged as a significant global platform for dialogue.
He appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace and reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Islamabad’s initiatives.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Erdoğan for the warm invitation and traditional Turkish hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He congratulated the Turkish leadership on the successful hosting of the forum, describing it as an important global event.
The two leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister shared updates on Pakistan’s efforts to sustain the ceasefire and resume dialogue, with a view to achieving a lasting peace agreement.
Both leaders underscored the importance of utilizing the current window of opportunity to advance durable peace and stability in the region.
Reaffirming the deep-rooted, historic and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, the two sides expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations. They agreed to convene the 8th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting in Ankara later this year.
The leaders also emphasized the need to expedite the implementation of ongoing initiatives and explore new avenues to further enhance economic cooperation.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, based on shared values and a common vision for peace and prosperity.
