Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed Islamabad on Wednesday for a four-day official tour spanning Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional security. In Saudi Arabia, he is expected to meet Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, with Riyadh having announced an additional $3 billion in deposits for Pakistan and a three-year extension of its existing $5 billion financial facility. In Türkiye, Sharif will participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum (an annual multilateral gathering bringing together heads of state and senior officials to discuss global issues) and hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as Pakistan continues efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran amid ongoing regional hostilities.
Mosaic News
Pakistan PM Shehbaz embarks on four-day diplomatic tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye[Updated]
Sharif has completed his Qatar leg of the tour, where he met with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with discussions reported to have focused on putting a potential Iran peace process back on track. He has since arrived in Antalya, Turkey, where Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan paid a courtesy call and conveyed that President Erdoğan was looking forward to their meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin also welcomed the prime minister upon his arrival.
Sharif has since concluded his Saudi Arabia visit, which included a stop in Madina where he was welcomed by the city's governor, Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and offered prayers at the Prophet's Mosque — with the gates of the Prophet's Chamber opened specially for his delegation. He also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar describing the meeting as marked by warmth and brotherhood. The prime minister has now departed for Doha, where he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.