Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Istanbul, as regional and European leaders discussed diplomatic engagement, regional stability and the economic impact of ongoing conflicts. Dar later departed for Islamabad after a successful visit that included multilateral meetings, talks with counterparts and discussions on strengthening Pakistan’s international partnerships.
At the conclusion of the Regional Four (R4) and R4+E4 meetings, participating foreign ministers, includ-ing representatives from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, called on President Erdogan in Istanbul. Dar conveyed greetings to the Turkish president from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.
He thanked Erdogan for Türkiye’s warm hospitality and for hosting the diplomatic meetings, reaffirming the special bond between Pakistan and Türkiye and their longstanding friendship and high-level strategic cooperation. President Erdogan welcomed the visiting foreign ministers and appreciated their deliberations under the R4 and R4+E4 formats.
The meeting featured candid exchanges of views on regional and global developments, with participants underscoring the importance of continued dialogue and diplomatic engagement to address shared challenges. During his visit, Dar also met France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, in Is-tanbul.
Recalling their recent meeting on the sidelines of the previous United Nations General Assembly session, the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and France. Dar emphasised the importance of sustained engagement and regular dialogue to advance cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on current regional and international developments, particularly the wider economic and social consequences of ongoing crises and their impact on energy costs. Both sides stressed that dialogue and diplomacy were essential to addressing regional challenges, promoting peace and strengthening international cooperation.—NNI
