Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake official visits to Iran and Türkiye from July 3 to 5, where he will attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and hold high-level meetings aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s bilateral ties with both countries, the Foreign Office announced on Thursday.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the prime minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The prime minister will begin his visit in Iran, where he will participate in the funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Khamenei. During the visit, he will convey condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the Iranian leadership and the bereaved family, while reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran during this period of mourning.
Following his visit to Tehran, Prime Minister Shehbaz will travel to Istanbul at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders are expected to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and other key economic sectors, while also exchanging views on regional peace and security.
During his stay in Istanbul, the prime minister will address a business conference organised by Pakistan to promote investment opportunities in priority sectors, including Special Economic Zones (SEZs), energy, information technology, trade, and privatisation. The conference will bring together leading Turkish investors, business executives, and government officials to explore new avenues of economic collaboration.
The Foreign Office said the visits reflect the deep historical, cultural, and fraternal ties Pakistan enjoys with both Iran and Türkiye and reaffirm Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening these longstanding partnerships.
Commenting on the ongoing US-Iran dialogue, Andrabi said Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue negotiations, with the next round of talks expected after the funeral ceremonies. He added that there had been positive progress on various aspects of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Pakistan Rejects Any Move to Undermine Indus Waters Treaty
Addressing regional issues, the Foreign Office strongly warned India against any attempt to suspend or withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty, describing such a move as illegal, unilateral, and a clear violation of international law.
Andrabi stressed that water cannot be used as an instrument of political pressure or coercion. Referring to a recent seminar in Islamabad, he said no country possesses the capability to deprive Pakistan of its rightful share of water or render its lands barren.
He cautioned that any effort to deny Pakistan its water rights would seriously threaten regional peace and stability, potentially leading to dangerous consequences.
Quoting Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan completely rejects any unilateral attempt by India to suspend the treaty and will make no compromise on its legitimate water rights.
He further criticised what he described as India’s approach of treating shared water resources as assets that can be controlled or diverted at will, arguing that such a mindset violates both the Indus Waters Treaty and established principles of international law.
According to the Foreign Office, any disruption of Pakistan’s water supply would also breach India’s international obligations and undermine its credibility within the global community.
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