ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif met Turkish Ambassador Dr. Irfan Nezirlo at the Prime Minister’s House. The meeting discussed bilateral relations, the security situation in the region, and the recent Pahalgam incident.
The prime minister conveyed his best wishes to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and referred to their meeting in Ankara on April 22, during which the two countries discussed enhancing cooperation in various fields. He appreciated President Erdoğan’s support for Pakistan and his efforts to promote peace in South Asia.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan, despite India’s provocations, is demonstrating responsibility and is proud of its sacrifices against terrorism. He said Pakistan had sacrificed 90,000 lives and suffered an economic loss of $152 billion.
The prime minister rejected India’s allegations of Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam incident, saying India could not provide any evidence in this regard. He reiterated Pakistan’s offer for a transparent and impartial international investigation into the incident and said that Pakistan would welcome it if Turkey joined the process.
The prime minister emphasized that Pakistan is focused on its economic recovery, and peace and stability in the region are essential for it.
Expressing support for Pakistan’s position, the Turkish envoy called for restraint and peace in the current situation and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to de-escalate the situation in the region.