Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today explicitly linked peace with the Afghan Taliban regime to the full resolution of Pakistan’s security concerns, a message conveyed during a high-level meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The discussion took place on the sidelines of the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, where the two leaders also exchanged views on broader regional and global developments.
While thanking Turkiye for its constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Pakistan and the Afghan administration, the Prime Minister stressed that lasting peace would only be possible if Islamabad’s security interests were fully addressed.
During the engagement, Sharif also expressed a firm resolve to bolster bilateral cooperation with Turkiye across a spectrum of mutual interests, including political, energy, economic, defence, and investment sectors.
Identifying energy, petroleum, and minerals as priority areas, the premier welcomed Turkish interest and investments and urged both nations to ensure the prompt execution of recently signed agreements in these critical fields.
Pakistan is also seeking to leverage Turkish expertise for the privatization of its distribution companies, with both leaders agreeing to facilitate ministerial-level exchanges in the near future to advance this initiative.
The Prime Minister underscored the significance of regional connectivity, highlighting the revival of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul rail network as a key manifestation of this objective.
Sharif also appreciated President Erdogan’s leadership and strong commitment to peace efforts in Gaza.
The Turkish President, in turn, expressed his desire to collaborate closely with a view to build stronger ties between the two allied countries.