ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani foreign office has said it is in contact with Pakistanis stranded at the Istanbul Airport due to new coronavirus restrictions put in place on June 1.
Under the new measures, passengers departing from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will be quarantined for 14 days in locations determined by the governorships, according to a statement shared by Turkish Airlines on Tuesday and published by Anadolu Agency.
Passengers who have been to these countries in the last 14 days will be asked to submit a negative PCR test report 72 hours before entering Turkey. Only a negative PCR test result at the end of the 14th day of the quarantine will terminate the isolation.
“Following the announcement today (1 June 2021) of new regulations by the Turkish authorities imposing a quarantine of 14 days on passengers arriving from several countries including Pakistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara is in touch with the Turkish authorities about this decision,” the foreign office said on Tuesday evening. “A number of Pakistanis had gotten stranded at Istanbul, as they had started their journey before the announcement of these regulations.”
At the embassy’s request, the FO said, Turkish authorities had granted a one-day exemption from quarantine for June1, 2021, allowing passengers into Turkey with a negative PCR test conducted at the airport.
“The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Istanbul are in close contact with the Pakistanis at the airport to help minimize the impact of these regulations,” the FO said. “A team from the Consulate General is also present at the Istanbul Airport to render necessary assistance to Pakistani nationals.”
Pakistanis briefly stranded at Istanbul airport due to new COVID-19 restrictions
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Pakistanis briefly stranded at Istanbul airport due to new COVID-19 restrictions
- Passengers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, India among others to be quarantined for 14 days
- At Pakistan embassy’s request, Turkey grants one day exemption from quarantine for June 1
Saudi defense minister meets Pakistan army chief, discusses security issues
- Khalid bin Salman says both countries reaffirmed strategic defense partnership
- The meeting follows last year’s joint defense pact deepening military relations
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said on Thursday he had met Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to reaffirm the strategic defense partnership and discuss cooperation to promote global peace and security.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of deepening defense and security ties between the two countries. Last September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral defense accord that elevated long-standing military cooperation into a formal security commitment, with both sides pledging to treat aggression against one as a threat to the other.
“Met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to reaffirm our strong relations and strategic defense partnership,” the Saudi minister said in a social media post. “We discussed our joint efforts to promote global peace and security in a manner that serves our shared interests.”
https://x.com/kbsalsaud/status/2021970225579847828?s=20
The talks take place at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the conflict in Gaza far from resolution amid ongoing ceasefire violations by Israel.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long maintained close economic, diplomatic and security ties, and coordination between the two sides has intensified since the signing of the defense pact.
The two countries are also part of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and have pressed for progress toward an independent Palestinian state and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza along with other Muslim nations.
The Middle East has also been on edge as the United States pursues nuclear negotiations with Iran, prompting many regional states to call for diplomacy rather than new military flare-ups.
So far, Pakistan’s military has not issued a detailed statement about Thursday’s meeting.
Earlier this month, Pakistani officials attended the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, a major international exhibition bringing together governments, armed forces and global defense manufacturers.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also discussed expanding economic cooperation, including efforts to combine Pakistan’s production capacity with Saudi capital and access to regional markets, according to Pakistan’s commerce ministry.
