ANTALYA (April 17, 2026) — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today, marking the culmination of his high-stakes tri-nation diplomatic tour. The Prime Minister will also represent Pakistan at the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he is expected to play a central role in discussions regarding regional stability and the future of the Middle East.
Highlights
- A one-on-one meeting with President Erdogan to discuss the US-Iran peace process and bilateral defense ties.
- The PM will speak on the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties” during the forum’s flagship leaders’ panel.
- Bilateral meetings with various world leaders to consolidate support for the Islamabad-brokered ceasefire.
- Deputy PM Ishaq Dar met with FM Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu to discuss the welfare of the Pakistani diaspora.
انطالیہ: 17 اپریل، 2026۔
وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف ترک صدر رجب طیب ایردوان کی دعوت پر انطالیہ ڈپلومیسی فورم میں شرکت کیلئے ترکیہ میں موجود ہیں.
وزیرِ اعظم آج انطالیہ میں منعقدہ پانچویں ڈپلومیسی فورم میں “آئندہ کل کے لائحہ عمل و غیر یقینی صورتحال کے انتظام” (Mapping Tomorrow,… pic.twitter.com/ek4BqvleTS
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) April 17, 2026
Presenting the “Pakistan Perspective”
At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Prime Minister Shehbaz will detail Pakistan’s successful efforts in facilitating the highest level of engagement between Washington and Tehran since 1979. In the “Mapping Tomorrow” panel, he is expected to advocate for a transition from temporary truces to a structured regional security framework, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only viable path to managing current global uncertainties.
Strategic coordination with Turkiye
The meeting with President Erdogan is particularly significant as the April 22 ceasefire deadline approaches. Having already secured the backing of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the Prime Minister aims to align with Turkiye—a key regional power—to maintain pressure on both the US and Iran to extend the truce. The leaders are also expected to review ongoing joint defense projects, including aerospace and naval cooperation.
DPM Ishaq Dar’s outreach
On the sidelines, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expanded Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint by meeting with Northern Cyprus Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu. The discussion focused on practical cooperation, specifically enhancing educational opportunities and ensuring the welfare of Pakistani citizens residing in Northern Cyprus.
Pleased to meet Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of #ADF2026 today.
We discussed strengthening Pakistan–Bangladesh ties and exchanged views on regional developments, including Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue. I look forward to our… pic.twitter.com/mlgZnjq34d
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) April 17, 2026
Closing a tri-nation circuit
This visit to Antalya follows a productive 48 hours where the Prime Minister secured an $8 billion support package from Saudi Arabia and a symbolic fighter jet escort in Qatar. By the end of today’s forum, Pakistan hopes to have solidified a unified “middle-power” front—consisting of Riyadh, Doha, and Ankara—to act as a collective guarantor for peace in the Middle East.
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