Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has commenced a four-day diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey amid renewed efforts to revive US-Iran peace talks.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Pakistan’s foreign ministry, which said the prime minister’s trip, scheduled for April 15 to 18, is part of ongoing diplomatic engagements ahead of a potential second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran.
According to the ministry, the visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar will focus on bilateral relations, while in Turkey, Mr Sharif will attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
He is also expected to hold high-level meetings with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other global leaders on the sidelines of the forum.
Peace talks backdrop
The diplomatic tour comes shortly after rare face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran were held in Islamabad — their first direct engagement in decades.
The talks are aimed at ending a conflict that began over six weeks ago following coordinated strikes by the US and Israel on Iran, which triggered retaliatory actions across the Middle East.
Although the initial negotiations ended without a breakthrough, US President Donald Trump indicated that discussions could resume soon in Islamabad.
Rising tensions
The conflict has significantly destabilised the region, with Iran targeting US allies in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and disrupting key energy export routes.
Despite a fragile ceasefire currently in place, tensions remain high, especially following the United States’ imposition of a naval blockade on Iran.
Economic support
As part of the diplomatic engagements, Pakistan is also strengthening economic ties with Saudi Arabia.
Islamabad’s finance ministry confirmed that Riyadh has pledged $3 billion to support Pakistan’s foreign reserves, alongside an extension of an existing $5 billion deposit.
The support comes shortly after Pakistan announced it was repaying loans to the United Arab Emirates, highlighting shifting financial dynamics in the region.
Mr Sharif is accompanied on the trip by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials, with Mr Dar playing a key mediating role in the US-Iran discussions.
The visit signals Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role in mediating Middle East tensions, as global powers push for a resolution to the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.
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