Pakistan’s diplomacy in focus at Antalya forum
• PM emerges as key figure, praised for mediation in US-Iran tensions
• Meets Erdogan; both call for permanent ceasefire
• Trump envoy appreciates Islamabad’s role in regional stability
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emerged as a key diplomatic figure at the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF 2026) in Turkiye on Friday, drawing international attention for Pakistan’s mediation role in de-escalating regional tensions, as the United States showed interest in strengthening economic and strategic ties with Islamabad to jointly address global challenges.
On the sidelines of the forum, the prime minister held meetings with several world leaders and received appreciation for facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran and helping secure a ceasefire following weeks of war.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos met PM Shehbaz and conveyed greetings from US President Donald Trump.
He appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability and reiterated Washington’s interest in deepening engagement with Islamabad on shared priorities, including counterterrorism, economic development and addressing global challenges, the statement said.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz also lauded President Trump for his leadership in securing a ceasefire in Lebanon. He conveyed his warm regards to the US president and recalled his cordial interactions with him.
He reiterated his appreciation for President Trump’s “bold and decisive” leadership, which led to the ceasefire between Pakistan and India last year.
The two sides discussed regional developments, including Pakistan’s peace efforts and the Islamabad talks between the United States and Iran. The prime minister emphasised the importance of strengthening Pakistan-US bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment and multilateral cooperation.
Meetings with world leaders
The prime minister held a series of informal but significant interactions with global leaders on the sidelines of the forum, reinforcing Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement on regional and international issues.
Among those he met were Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
He also held separate meetings with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.
According to the PMO, the meetings were held in a cordial atmosphere, with discussions focusing on evolving regional developments and avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation across political, economic and security sectors.
Meeting with Erdogan
PM Shehbaz held a bilateral meeting with President Erdogan, where both leaders stressed the need for a permanent ceasefire between the United States and Iran to ensure lasting peace in the region.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and other senior officials. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and other officials were also present.
President Erdogan welcomed the prime minister and praised Pakistan’s peace efforts, reaffirming Turkiye’s support for Islamabad’s diplomatic initiatives.
The prime minister thanked President Erdogan for his hospitality and congratulated him on the successful organisation of the forum, which he said had become an important global platform for dialogue.
The two leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East, and emphasised the importance of utilising the current window of opportunity to advance a durable peace.
Reaffirming the longstanding and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, both sides expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of bilateral relations and agreed to convene the 8th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) meeting in Ankara later this year.
They also stressed the need to expedite ongoing initiatives and explore new avenues to further deepen economic engagement.
The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming their resolve to strengthen the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye, grounded in fraternal ties and a vision for regional peace and prosperity.
Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026