Shehbaz Sharif begins regional tour with Saudi Arabia visit amid diplomatic push
By Tahir Shah :
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed from Islamabad on a multi-country visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye, as Pakistan steps up diplomatic engagement on regional and international issues.
According to the Foreign Office of Pakistan, the prime minister’s tour from April 15 to 18 will focus on strengthening bilateral ties and discussing regional peace and security. He is accompanied by a senior delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
During his stop in Jeddah, Mr Sharif is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss cooperation in economic, security and diplomatic. Officials say talks will also cover developments in the Middle East, where tensions remain high despite a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
The visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar are being described as part of ongoing bilateral engagement, while in Türkiye the prime minister will attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. He is expected to address global leaders and present Pakistan’s stance on key international issues.
On the sidelines of the forum, Mr Sharif is also scheduled to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other world leaders.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan is actively positioning itself as a mediator in the Middle East crisis. Islamabad recently hosted talks between Washington and Tehran, helping secure a temporary ceasefire, though key differences remain unresolved.
Pakistan’s longstanding ties with Saudi Arabia are expected to feature prominently during the visit. Riyadh has recently pledged additional financial support, including a fresh $3 billion deposit and an extension of an existing $5 billion facility, underlining its continued economic backing for Islamabad.
The two countries also maintain close defence cooperation. Earlier this month, Saudi authorities confirmed the deployment of Pakistani military personnel and aircraft under a joint security arrangement, reflecting deepening strategic ties between the two countries.
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