PM Shehbaz acknowledges Turkiye's role in promoting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday recognised Turkiye's constructive contribution to fostering peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan during a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The phone call came a day after Pakistan announced a "temporary pause" in the ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban, citing the occasion of Eidul Fitr and a request from "brotherly Islamic countries," including Turkiye.

PM lauds Turkiye's peace efforts

According to a statement issued by the PM Office, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan during the call. The statement said that the prime minister acknowledged Turkiye's constructive role in promoting peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, "especially in the recently announced temporary ceasefire, over the Eid days."

The recognition of Turkiye's mediation role highlights the diplomatic engagement underway between Islamabad and Ankara on the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, with the Turkish government actively involved in promoting dialogue and de-escalation between the two neighbouring countries.

PM condemns regional escalation, missile attacks on Turkiye

During the conversation, Prime Minister Shehbaz also reiterated his strong condemnation of the ongoing escalation in the region, particularly the missile attacks on Turkiye, the PM Office statement said.

"The entire Pakistani nation stood in solidarity" with Turkiye, the statement noted.

The prime minister's remarks reflect Islamabad's firm stance alongside Ankara amid the regional tensions, with Pakistan expressing unwavering support for Turkiye in the face of the missile strikes targeting the country.

The temporary halt in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, which has been directed against the Afghan Taliban, was announced by Pakistan ahead of the Eid celebrations. The decision to pause military operations was taken at the request of brotherly Islamic countries, signalling the role of diplomatic channels in influencing Pakistan's military strategy along the western border.

Turkiye's involvement as a mediating party in the Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions has been a notable development, with Ankara leveraging its ties with both Islamabad and Kabul to encourage peaceful resolution of the ongoing disputes between the two neighbours.

The telephone exchange between PM Shehbaz and President Erdogan underscored the strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to regional peace and stability.