PM Shehbaz leaves for Iran after concluding Turkiye visit

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif concluded his two-day official visit to Turkey on Monday and departed for Tehran, where he is scheduled to meet with Iranian leadership.

According to APP, during his stay in Istanbul, the Prime Minister was seen off at the airport by Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Istanbul Deputy Governor Ilker Haktankacmaz, and President of the Pakistan-Turkey Cultural Association Burhan Kayaturk. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Yousaf Junaid, Consul General Nauman Aslam, senior Turkish officials, and embassy staff were also present at the departure ceremony.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Turkey primarily aimed to express Pakistan’s gratitude for the strong support extended by the Turkish government and people, particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during Pakistan’s recent tensions with India.

PM Shehbaz left Islamabad on a four-nation tour from May 25 to 30 with Turkiye being a first stop. He also visit Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, as the government is trying to promote Pakistan’s case in the backdrop of recent Indian aggression.

Earlier in May, Erdogan expressed solidarity with Pakistan after India conducted military strikes in response to an attack in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. The clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours were the worst in more than two decades.

Ankara also maintains cordial ties with India but after Erdogan’s expression of support for Pakistan, small Indian grocery shops and major online fashion retailers boycotted Turkish products.