Pakistani 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 ties on fundamental issues and regional cooperation.
During their talks with President Erdogan, the two leaders reaffirmed their support on issues of national interest, including Turkey’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s endorsement of Turkey’s position on Cyprus. They condemned Israeli actions against the Palestinians, highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis since October 2023.
“The brotherhood and friendship between Pakistan and Turkey are deeply rooted in history,” Erdogan said, praising Pakistan’s economic recovery and humanitarian efforts for Palestine and Lebanon.
The leaders discussed strengthening bilateral trade, with a target of $5 billion, and explored cooperation in information technology, agriculture and green technology. He invited Erdogan to Islamabad to co-chair the 7th session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Iran-Pakistan relations
During his meeting with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif focused on strengthening economic ties, implementing border markets and promoting energy and security cooperation.
Both leaders condemned the “genocide of the Palestinians” and agreed to raise their voices 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 for joining BRICS and sought Tehran’s support for Pakistan’s inclusion in the bloc. He invited Pezeshkian for an official visit to Pakistan.
Both meetings highlighted the importance of regional peace, economic collaboration and solidarity on international issues.