Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo, reinforcing commitments to strengthen links on fundamental issues and regional cooperation.
In talks with President Erdogan, both leaders reaffirmed their support on issues of national interest, including Türkiye’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s support for Türkiye’s position on Cyprus. They condemned Israeli actions against the Palestinians and emphasized the worsening of the humanitarian crisis since October 2023.
“The brotherhood and friendship between Pakistan and Turkey is deeply rooted in history,” Erdogan said, praising Pakistan’s economic recovery and humanitarian efforts for Palestine and Lebanon.
The leaders discussed improving bilateral trade, with a target of $5 billion, and explored cooperation in IT, agriculture and green technology. He invited Erdogan to Islamabad to co-chair the seventh session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Iran-Pakistan relations
In his meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif focused on strengthening economic ties, operationalizing border markets and fostering energy and security cooperation.
Both leaders condemned the “genocide of the Palestinians” and agreed to speak out against Israeli actions. The prime minister expressed solidarity with Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, adding: “Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with our oppressed brothers and sisters.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz also congratulated Iran on its membership in the BRICS and sought Tehran’s support for Pakistan’s inclusion in the bloc. He extended an invitation to Pezeshkian for an official visit to Pakistan.
Both meetings stressed the importance of regional peace, economic collaboration and solidarity on international issues.
