ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held discussions with US President Donald Trump’s Adviser Massad Boulos over regional developments on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, an official statement said, as diplomatic efforts gain pace to end the US-Israel war in Iran before the Apr. 21 ceasefire deadline expires.
Pakistan has been leading diplomatic efforts to end the war, which has been on a two-week pause since Apr. 8, with Islamabad acting as a key mediator between Iranian and US officials since the start of US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
The Pakistani prime minister is currently in Türkiye to attend the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum beginning today after visiting Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to discuss the ongoing Middle East tensions.
Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, met Sharif in Antalya, with the Pakistani leader praising Trump’s “bold and decisive” leadership in securing ceasefires between Pakistan and India last year, as well as Israel and Lebanon, according to the PM Office.
“The two sides also discussed current regional developments including Pakistan’s peace efforts that led to the ceasefire [in Iran] as well as the historic Islamabad Talks,” the statement said.
“Mr. Massad Boulos conveyed greetings to the Prime Minister from President Donald Trump and appreciated Pakistan’s constructive contributions to regional stability,” it added.
The PM Office added Sharif urged the importance of strengthening Pakistan-US relations in the economic, trade and counterterrorism sectors, as well as enhancing cooperation in multilateral diplomacy to address shared global challenges.
DEPUTY PM MEETS FOREIGN LEADERS
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is accompanying Sharif to Türkiye, held separate meetings with Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković.
Dar discussed bilateral relations with all three foreign ministers, focusing on strengthening Pakistan’s ties with the respective countries.
“Ms. Huang expressed strong support for and appreciation of Pakistan’s efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful resolution of issues in the region,” Pakistan’s foreign office said.
It added in another statement that Dar and his Bangladesh counterpart exchanged views on regional developments including Pakistan’s role in facilitating the dialogue between the US and Iran.
The deputy prime minister also highlighted historical bonds between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointing out the two sides had stood by each other in times of hardship and crisis.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the US and Iran in recent weeks.
It is also pushing for a second round of talks between the two sides, after the first round of direct negotiations on Apr. 11 in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough.
