Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to make official visits to Iran and Türkiye from July 3 to 5, as announced during a weekly press briefing by the Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi. The prime minister’s trip to Iran will include attending a condolence ceremony for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
During his visit to Iran, Shehbaz Sharif will extend Pakistan’s condolences and demonstrate solidarity with both the Iranian government and its people, representing the sentiments of the Pakistani government and population.
Following the Iran visit, the prime minister will proceed to Istanbul upon the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking an important step in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Türkiye.
In a significant development regarding the ongoing US-Iran negotiations, the spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s increased diplomatic efforts aligned with the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (IMoU). Recent discussions held in Doha have seen notable progress, with both the United States and Iran agreeing to resume talks after the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Pakistan continues to play an active role in facilitating dialogue between the two nations under the framework of the Islamabad MoU, aiming to support the advancement of the US-Iran peace process.
Addressing water-related concerns, the spokesperson firmly rejected any unilateral actions that could undermine the longstanding water-sharing agreement between Pakistan and India. He emphasized that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar clearly stated during the Indus Water Treaty seminar that the treaty, which has been in place for over six decades, cannot be revoked unilaterally.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s position remains that the central issue with India is not terrorism but rather a mindset within the Indian leadership that attempts to use water as a strategic tool.
Separately, diplomatic efforts by Pakistan have led to the release of 22 Iranian fishermen, with the total number of Iranian nationals repatriated now reaching 70, reflecting ongoing cooperation between the two countries.
