The Foreign Office refrained from confirming or denying reports about a possible visit to Tehran by Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during a weekly press briefing. This silence comes amid a notably busy week of regional diplomatic activity for Pakistan.
Earlier in May, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Iran twice, on the 16th and 20th, engaging in high-level discussions with Iranian officials. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit China from May 23 to 26, responding to an official invitation from the Chinese government.
Describing the upcoming trip as particularly significant, the spokesperson highlighted that it coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. This milestone presents a crucial opportunity to reinforce the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. During the visit, PM Sharif will hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, focusing on political, economic, and strategic cooperation, as well as trade, investment, and technological advancement.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary begins in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where he will chair a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Conference covering sectors such as IT, telecommunications, and energy. Subsequently, he will travel to Beijing to attend an anniversary reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Addressing questions about the agenda, the spokesperson indicated that ongoing US-Iran negotiations might be discussed during the Prime Minister’s meetings with Chinese leaders. This reflects the established trust between Islamabad and Beijing on Middle Eastern issues, following Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent visit to China.
Concurrently, Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation in the Gulf region. PM Sharif recently held two phone calls with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, focusing on bilateral relations and regional stability. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has also maintained active communication with international counterparts, including Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.
In response to recent security incidents, the Foreign Office strongly condemned two drone attacks on May 17 targeting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Expressing solidarity with both countries, the spokesperson warned that any deliberate assault on nuclear facilities constitutes a serious breach of international law. He stressed that nuclear sites must remain inviolable and expressed hope that such dangerous events will not recur.
Turning to human rights concerns, the spokesperson paid tribute to martyred Kashmiri leaders Mirwaiz Maulvi Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone. He denounced the “brazen impunity” surrounding the human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), urging the United Nations and the international community to resolve the dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
Separately, the Foreign Office welcomed the safe arrival in Istanbul of Global Sumud Flotilla detainees, including Saad Edhi, expressing gratitude to the Turkish government. It also noted ongoing bilateral engagements with Bangladesh and Russia, underscoring Pakistan’s broad diplomatic outreach.
