ANTALYA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised Pakistan’s peace efforts, adding Ankara would continue to support Islamabad’s diplomatic initiative to bring peace to the region.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Sharif on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday, according to a PM house statement.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Turkiye and expressed appreciation for his participation in the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya. 17 April 2026 pic.twitter.com/98o0DDQP68
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) April 17, 2026
Both leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments, with a particular focus on the evolving situation in the Middle East.
The Prime Minister appreciated President Erdogan’s support for Pakistan’s peace initiatives and briefed him on efforts to extend the ceasefire and resume dialogue aimed at achieving a lasting peace agreement.
The two leaders underscored the importance of making effective use of the current window of opportunity to promote durable and lasting peace in the region. Reaffirming the deep-rooted, historic, and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, they expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in bilateral relations.
Antalya: 17 April 2026.
Prime Minister meets President Erdoğan on sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy… pic.twitter.com/Tr5ci7dgHV
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) April 17, 2026
They also agreed to hold the 8th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) meeting in Ankara later this year, while emphasizing the need to accelerate the implementation of ongoing projects and explore new avenues for enhanced economic cooperation.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the Pakistan–Turkiye strategic partnership, grounded in shared values, fraternal ties, and a common vision for peace and prosperity.
Had the pleasure of meeting my dear brother, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum today.
Thanked him for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation. I also congratulated President Erdoğan on the continued… pic.twitter.com/LcdxtgN1pE
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 17, 2026
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar and other senior officials. Turkish Foreign Minister H.E. Hakan Fidan and other senior Turkish officials were also present.
The visit comes as part of PM Sharif’s regional tour from April 15 to 18, which also includes Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Pakistan is trying to host another round of Iran-US talks in Islamabad, for which dates are being decided mutually.
The White House has indicated that a second round of US-Iran talks is “very likely” to take place in Islamabad, underscoring Pakistan’s growing role as a central diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran.
