Ashgabat (TDI): Turkiye has voiced its willingness to play a constructive role in efforts aimed at preserving stability following a fragile but ongoing ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The assurance came from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of an international forum in Turkmenistan.
The prime minister highlighted the depth of Pakistan–Turkiye relations and discussed collaboration in energy, defense, investment and economic sectors. He welcomed Turkish interest in Pakistan’s petroleum, energy and minerals industries and emphasized the strategic importance of regional connectivity, including reviving the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul rail link.
President Erdogan thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz and reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to working closely with Pakistan to further strengthen bilateral relations.
At the gathering, Prime Minister Shehbaz urged the international community to intensify pressure on the Afghan Taliban to uphold their international commitments and take decisive action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory. He warned that militancy emanating from across the border continued to pose a serious threat to regional peace.
Addressing the forum, held to mark the International Year of Peace and Trust 2025, the International Day of Neutrality and the anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, the prime minister said Pakistan’s foreign policy was firmly anchored in the peaceful resolution of disputes. He cited Islamabad’s support for the Gaza Peace Plan and its endorsement by the UN Security Council as evidence of this approach.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz noted that Pakistan had begun the year as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, where it was actively contributing to international peace and security. However, he cautioned that terrorism was once again resurfacing, particularly from Afghan soil, and called on global powers to ensure that the Taliban government fulfilled its assurances on counterterrorism.
He expressed appreciation for the role played by Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates in facilitating a ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul, describing the arrangement as intact but delicate. He also referred to the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2788 earlier this year, calling it an endorsement of Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
The prime minister also touched on developments in the Middle East, voicing hope that ongoing peace efforts would safeguard Palestinian lives, secure a durable ceasefire, allow uninterrupted humanitarian aid and support the reconstruction of Gaza. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine and Kashmir.
Linking peace with development, PM Shehbaz said sustainable progress was essential for lasting stability and pointed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a global roadmap. He highlighted Pakistan’s advances in financial inclusion and women’s economic participation, while noting challenges posed by climate change and structural inequalities in the global economy. He stressed that access to advanced, particularly digital, technologies must be fair and inclusive.
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Calling on world leaders to act with urgency, the prime minister advocated greater investment in regional connectivity, describing it as a means to build bridges between people, ideas and shared prosperity. Earlier, he congratulated Turkmenistan on three decades of permanent neutrality and joined other leaders at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Neutrality Monument.
Engagements with Regional Leaders
On the sidelines of the forum, Prime Minister Shehbaz also met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov.
In his meeting with President Pezeshkian, both leaders acknowledged the mutual support extended by Pakistan and Iran when each faced external pressure earlier this year. The prime minister underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation through expanded trade, activation of border markets, enhanced border security and improved connectivity, including the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul rail corridor. He again stressed the need for collective pressure on the Afghan Taliban to address Pakistan’s security concerns.
The Iranian president expressed a strong desire to deepen ties with Pakistan, with both sides agreeing to maintain close, high-level engagement. PM Shehbaz also conveyed his regards to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
