Pakistan - Middle East Relationship News

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PM Shehbaz departs on official visits to Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Qatar​

Syed Irfan Raza, Ameer Hamza
April 15, 2026

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed from Islamabad for Jeddah on Wednesday, kicking off a series of official visits to Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Qatar, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

The prime minister, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is undertaking official visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye from April 15 to 18, the FO said in a press release on Wednesday.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Shehbaz will hold a meeting with top Saudi leadership, including Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman.

In its statement, the FO said the visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar are “in the bilateral context”. It added that the premier will meet the leadership there to “discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security”.

In Turkiye, he will participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum and present Pakistan’s position in the Leaders’ Panel along with other world leaders, the FO added.

“Pakistan’s participation in the forum reflects its continued commitment to constructive diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, and meaningful engagement with the international community on issues of global importance,” the FO statement said.

 

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PM Shehbaz arrives in Saudi Arabia on first leg of three-nation tour​

During his visit, the premier will hold talks with the Saudi crown prince to further strengthen bilateral relations

Web Desk
April 15, 2026

Photo: X

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, where he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The prime minister is on a three-nation tour from April 15 to 17, during which he will also visit Qatar and Turkey.

Upon his arrival, the premier and his delegation were warmly received at the airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, and Ahmed Farooq.

 

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The new development emerged as Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were quietly but steadily moving towards formalising a new quadrilateral framework, as rapid developments in the Middle East push key regional players to coordinate more closely on diplomacy and security.

While officials stopped short of calling it an alliance, the pace and frequency of engagements suggest that the four-country forum is evolving into a structured grouping aimed at shaping outcomes in a volatile region.

The latest step came on Tuesday, when senior officials from the four countries met in Islamabad following up on earlier consultations between their foreign ministers.

The meeting, hosted by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together top diplomats to firm up proposals that will now be presented at the upcoming foreign ministers' meeting in Antalya on April 17, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

 

[ghazi52]

The US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, killing thousands of people in Iran, including then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and leaving tens of thousands injured, with civilian areas, including residential buildings and religious sites, among those hit.

The conflict also expanded geographically. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. It also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

 

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PM Shehbaz meets Qatar emir, stresses importance of de-escalation, dialogue amid regional situation​

News Desk
April 16, 2026



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visits Rauda i Rasool (SAW) in Masjid-e-Nabwi on April 16. — PakPMO via X



Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Thursday. — Photo courtesy PMO



Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi receiving Prime

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and stressed the importance of de-escalation and dialogue amid the ongoing regional situation.

According to the Foreign Office (FO), the prime minister, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is undertaking official visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye from April 15 to 18.

The meeting with the Qatari emir took place shortly after his arrival in Doha, where he landed after concluding his trip to Saudi Arabia.

“I had a most warm and cordial meeting with my dear brother, Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha today,” PM Shehbaz said on X.

He stated: “We discussed the evolving regional situation, particularly in the Gulf region, and underscored the importance of de-escalation, dialogue, and close international coordination to ensure peace and stability.

 

[maxpane]

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jet escorting means agreement with qatar. am joking

 

[Ali_Baba]

jet escorting means agreement with qatar. am joking

It is all "well" to sign agreements, but does Pakistan have the military equipment to be able to fulfil those commitments, and also, what does Pakistan "get in return?".

PAF has deployed between 1 - 2 squadrons in Saudi Arabia, and if things do kick off again with India, does PAF has enough to handle India while these 1-2 squadrons are in Saudi ?

Unless there is financial commitment by these countries to help Pakistan military grow, these agreements can create more problems than they solve.

 

[maxpane]

It is all "well" to sign agreements, but does Pakistan have the military equipment to be able to fulfil those commitments, and also, what does Pakistan "get in return?".

PAF has deployed between 1 - 2 squadrons in Saudi Arabia, and if things do kick off again with India, does PAF has enough to handle India while these 1-2 squadrons are in Saudi ?

Unless there is financial commitment by these countries to help Pakistan military grow, these agreements can create more problems than they solve.

financial commitment olus raise new squadrons training and hiring new cadets accordin to the need. raise new army. get equipment with allies help. we have huge human resource we can get it and it can help our own defence industry as our allies will buy stuff. thats mine tbing and may be am idiot

 

[ghazi52]

PM Shehbaz arrives in Turkiye on last leg of 3-nation tour​

Expected to meet President Erdoğan and other leaders on sidelines of Fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum

Web Desk
April 16, 2026

Governor of Antalya Hulusi Şahin receives Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation at the airport on Thursday as they arrives in Türkiye to attend the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Photo: PMO

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in Turkiye on the final leg of his three-nation tour amid ongoing active negotiations for peace in the Middle East.

The prime minister is on a three-country tour until Friday, having earlier visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Pakistan continues diplomatic engagement amid efforts to help address the Middle East crisis affecting the wider region.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, upon arrival in Antalya, he was warmly received by Governor Hulusi Şahin, who welcomed the premier and his delegation at the airport.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye Yusuf Junaid and senior diplomatic officials were also present on the occasion.