Trump aide lauds Pakistan's stabilising role as PM Shehbaz engages global leaders at Antalya Forum

ANKARA: An aide to Donald Trump appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, as diplomatic efforts continue to ease tensions between the United States and Iran.

Prime Minister Shehbaz, who arrived in Turkiye to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, met Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos on the sidelines of the event.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Boulos conveyed greetings from President Trump and commended Pakistan’s constructive contributions to regional peace. He also reaffirmed Washington’s interest in expanding cooperation with Islamabad in areas such as counter-terrorism, economic development, and global challenges.

The prime minister, in response, conveyed his warm regards to President Trump and recalled their past interactions, while expressing appreciation for what he described as Trump’s “bold and decisive leadership” in facilitating last year’s ceasefire between Pakistan and India, as well as efforts leading to a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Both sides discussed ongoing regional developments, including Pakistan’s diplomatic role in promoting dialogue, such as the Islamabad talks, and underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in trade, economy, and multilateral cooperation.

Earlier, upon arrival in Antalya, PM Shehbaz met Hakan Fidan, who welcomed his participation in the forum and conveyed that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan looked forward to meeting him. The prime minister thanked the Turkish leadership for its hospitality, describing Turkiye as his “second home.”

On the sidelines of the forum, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a series of meetings with global counterparts. He met Elmedin Konakovic, where both sides reaffirmed strong historical ties between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation. Dar also met Khalilur Rahman to explore ways to strengthen ties with Bangladesh, alongside discussions on regional developments.

In another meeting, Dar held talks with Tahsin Ertugruloglu, reaffirming cooperation with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, particularly in education and welfare of the Pakistani diaspora. He also met Jeong Yeondoo, Vice Minister for Strategy and Intelligence at the Foreign Ministry of South Korea, who appreciated Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic efforts for regional peace.

The prime minister is set to participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, including a leaders’ panel titled “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” where he will outline Pakistan’s perspective on key global challenges. The forum brings together world leaders and policymakers to deliberate on pressing international issues.

PM Shehbaz is currently on a three-country tour. Prior to arriving in Turkiye, he visited Saudi Arabia, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah and reaffirmed the enduring partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh. He also stopped in Qatar, where he met Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and called for dialogue and de-escalation to promote peace in the Middle East.