Pakistani Prime Minister Visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey Ahead of Potential US-Iran Negotiations

SadaNews - Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif started a four-day diplomatic tour today, Wednesday, which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, according to his office, ahead of a potential second round of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.

The Pakistani foreign ministry stated that "Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif will undertake official visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Turkey from April 15 to 18, 2026."

The statement clarified that the visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar will take place "within a bilateral framework," while Sharif will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey and hold bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and several other leaders on the sidelines of the forum.

Washington and Tehran held their first direct negotiations in decades in Islamabad over the weekend, while efforts continue to end the war that started when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

The Middle East plunged into war following the attacks on Iran, as Tehran retaliated by targeting US bases and interests in the Gulf and imposed a ban on energy exports from the region.

The Islamabad talks concluded without an agreement to end the war against Iran, but US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that negotiations could be resumed this week in the Pakistani capital.

A fragile ceasefire agreement remains in place until next week, although the United States has called for a blockade on Iran.

Sharif is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, one of the mediators in the US-Iran talks, along with several other senior officials, according to his office on Wednesday afternoon.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain close relations. The Ministry of Finance in Islamabad announced on Wednesday that Riyadh will provide Pakistan with three billion dollars to help support its foreign exchange reserves.

This comes days after Pakistan announced that it would repay billions of dollars in loans to the UAE.

The Finance Ministry also stated that an existing Saudi deposit of five billion dollars will be extended for an unspecified period.