Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Turkiye during a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. He highlighted the strong bilateral relationship and continued strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting took place after discussions involving foreign ministers from the Regional Four (R4) group and their counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The participating ministers called on President Erdogan at the conclusion of their engagements.
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During the meeting, Dar conveyed greetings from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Dar delivered the greetings on behalf of Pakistan’s leadership.
Furthermore, Dar thanked President Erdogan for Turkiye’s warm hospitality and for hosting the meetings in Istanbul. He also reaffirmed the importance of the close relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye, built on longstanding friendship and high-level strategic cooperation.
President Erdogan welcomed the visiting foreign ministers and appreciated their discussions under the R4 and R4+ E4 formats. The meeting provided an opportunity for participating countries to exchange views on important regional and international developments.
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According to the Foreign Office statement, the discussions featured candid exchanges on regional and global issues. The participants also emphasised the importance of maintaining dialogue and diplomatic engagement to address shared concerns.
The meeting highlighted continued diplomatic contact between Pakistan, Turkiye and other participating countries. Dar’s remarks reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Ankara while maintaining engagement on wider regional and international matters.