Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit four “friendly” countries—Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan—from May 25 until 30 to acknowledge the support extended by them to Pakistan during the conflict with India earlier this month.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said the prime minister would engage in wide-ranging discussions with the leaders of these countries, covering issues related to bilateral ties, matters of regional and international importance. It said he would also attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from May 29-30.
The visits are part of a planned diplomatic offensive aimed at propagating Pakistan’s narrative regarding India’s belligerence. On Friday, the prime minister also met Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who will head a high-level delegation comprising key parliamentarians to global capitals to present Pakistan’s case at the international level.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the PPP chief had thanked the prime minister for trusting him with this diplomatic task and entrusting him with the leadership of the delegation. “I hope that under your leadership, this delegation will present Pakistan’s position and narrative to the world in a comprehensive and effective manner,” it quoted the premier as saying.
Pakistan and India came to the brink of war earlier this month after a terrorist attack in India-held Kashmir’s Pahalgam left 26 tourists dead. Delhi swiftly blamed Islamabad for the attack without offering any evidence and scaled down diplomatic ties, as well as announcing it was holding the Indus Water Treaty “in abeyance.”
On May 6/7, India targeted so-called “terrorist camps” in various Pakistani cities, killing several civilians, prompting Pakistan to announce retaliation at a time and place of its choosing. On May 10, Pakistan’s armed forces launched the large-scale retaliatory Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting several Indian military installations across multiple regions.
The clashes saw Pakistan down six Indian fighter jets and dozens of drones before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire restored calm.