Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake official visits to Iran and Türkiye from July 3 to 5. Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Andrabi stated that the prime minister will visit Iran to attend a condolence ceremony for martyred Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressing solidarity with the government and people of Iran on behalf of Pakistan.
Visit to Türkiye for Bilateral Talks
The spokesperson said the prime minister will also travel to Istanbul at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “PM Shehbaz will also hold talks with the Turkish leadership and meet leading business figures in Türkiye to strengthen bilateral cooperation and economic ties,” he added.
Progress in Doha Negotiations
Andrabi reported positive progress in the Doha negotiations, with Pakistan once again playing a facilitative role. He said negotiations would resume after the funeral proceedings of the Iranian leadership.
Indus Waters Treaty Rejection
Separately, Andrabi said participants at an international seminar in Islamabad on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) had rejected unilateral measures concerning the water-sharing accord between Pakistan and India. “Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made it clear that the six-decade-old IWT could not be unilaterally rejected,” the spokesperson said. Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan and India’s real issue is not terrorism but the mindset within the Indian leadership that “seeks to use water as a weapon is the real issue.”
Release of Iranian Sailors
The spokesperson also said Pakistan’s efforts helped secure the release of 22 Iranian sailors, bringing the total number of Iranian citizens repatriated through Pakistan’s facilitation to 70.
Security Operations and Demarche to Afghanistan
On security issues, Andrabi said Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against terrorists is continuing, as Pakistan will not compromise on the safety of its citizens. The spokesperson said the Afghan chargé d’affaires was demarched on June 29 after an Afghan national was captured alive while carrying out a terrorist act on a Rangers facility in Karachi. He said Pakistan conveyed its concerns to Afghan authorities and reiterated that Islamabad will take all necessary steps to protect its citizens.
