Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Concludes Successful Two-Day Visit to Türkiye; Reaffirms Commitment to Strategic Ties and Counterterrorism Cooperation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a successful visit to Türkiye, enhancing bilateral cooperation and committing to counterterrorism efforts. He also condemned a terrorist attack on a polio team in Mastung.
Reporter: Imtiaz Ali Abbasi, Chief Reporter Islamabad
Date: 23rd April 2025
Posted by: Watts News, the Largest English Digital News Network Pakistan
Ankara, Türkiye:
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, has concluded a productive two-day official visit to the Republic of Türkiye, during which he held a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and reaffirmed the deep-rooted brotherly relations between the two nations. The visit marked a new chapter in Pakistan-Türkiye strategic cooperation, with both countries committing to bolster bilateral ties across multiple sectors and intensify joint efforts to eradicate all forms of terrorism.
During the joint press conference held in Ankara, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed heartfelt gratitude for President Erdoğan’s leadership and Türkiye’s consistent support to Pakistan. He praised the Turkish President’s political struggle and visionary leadership that transformed Türkiye into a progressive, powerful nation. The Prime Minister also recalled Türkiye’s generous assistance during the 2010 and 2022 floods, particularly highlighting their help in Sindh and Balochistan, and expressed appreciation for the solidarity shown by the Turkish people.
Highlighting the progress made during the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that 25 agreements signed in Islamabad covering energy, information technology, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and cultural cooperation have already entered the implementation phase. He reiterated the goal of raising bilateral trade to $5 billion and lauded the growing defense collaboration between the two countries.
He noted that Pakistan values Türkiye’s support in counterterrorism and reaffirmed the shared resolve to defeat terrorism, mentioning the recent attack on the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, which claimed innocent lives. He stated unequivocally that Pakistan, with Türkiye’s cooperation, will continue to fight this menace for regional and global peace.
.jpeg)
In addition, the Prime Minister strongly condemned the worsening situation in Gaza, where over 50,000 innocent Palestinians, including women and children, have lost their lives. He called for an immediate ceasefire and stressed the need for humanitarian assistance and a just solution based on the pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as the capital of a sovereign Palestinian state.
President Erdoğan, in his remarks, welcomed the Pakistani delegation and highlighted the spiritual and historical connections between the two nations. He appreciated Pakistan's efforts against terrorism and expressed condolences over the lives lost in recent attacks. He reaffirmed Türkiye's support for Pakistan and confirmed that the agreements signed during the visit are now being actively implemented across various sectors including trade, energy, health, agriculture, and culture.
At the conclusion of the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was seen off at the Ankara airport by Turkish Defense Minister Yashar Güler, President of the Pakistan-Türkiye Cultural Association Burhan Kayaturk, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye Yusuf Junaid, senior Turkish officials, and diplomats from the Pakistani embassy.
PM Condemns Terror Attack on Anti-Polio Team in Mastung
In a separate statement from Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack on an anti-polio campaign team in Mastung. He expressed sorrow over the martyrdom of Levies personnel assigned to protect the team and prayed for the departed souls and strength for their families.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that such cowardly acts cannot deter Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate polio. He urged the public to not lose hope and to ensure their children receive polio drops for a safer future. The anti-polio drive, he said, will continue with full momentum and national spirit.
Follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or visit our website www.wattsnews.online.
#ShehbazSharifVisitToTurkey www.wattsnews.online
#PakistanTurkeyRelations www.wattsnews.online
#JointPressConference www.wattsnews.online
#AntiPolioCampaign www.wattsnews.online
#GazaCeasefireCall www.wattsnews.online
#WattsNews www.wattsnews.online
.jpeg)
