PM Shehbaz to embark on visit to Iran, Turkiye from tomorrow: FO

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake official visits to Iran and Turkiye from July 3 to 5 to offer condolences over the death of Iran’s supreme leader and hold high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, the Foreign Office announced on Thursday.

Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the prime minister would be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with cabinet ministers and senior government officials.

The prime minister will first travel to Iran to attend the funeral ceremony of the late Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During the visit, he will convey condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the Iranian leadership and the bereaved families, while reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the brotherly nation during its time of grief.

Shehbaz will then travel to Istanbul at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders are expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on expanding trade and investment cooperation, as well as discussing regional peace and security.

During his stay in Istanbul, the prime minister will also address a business conference organised by Pakistan to showcase the country’s investment opportunities in priority sectors, including Special Economic Zones (SEZs), energy, trade, information technology and privatisation. The event will bring together leading Turkish business leaders, investors and senior officials.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said the visits underscore Pakistan’s longstanding fraternal, historical and cultural ties with Iran and Turkiye.

Andrabi also mentioned about the US-Iran talks in Qatar, stating that both countries have agreed to continue discussions, with the next meeting scheduled to take place after the funeral of the former Iranian supreme leader. “There has been positive development on the different aspects of the Islamabad MoU,” he said.

Pakistan warns India

The FO spox also said Pakistan has warned India in unequivocal terms that any attempt to terminate or back out of the Indus Waters Treaty would be illegal, unilateral, and a blatant violation of international law.

It was clarified that water cannot be used as a tool for political pressure or coercion, he added.

Speaking on the Indus Waters Treaty, the spokesperson referred to a seminar held recently in Islamabad and made it clear that no country in the world has the courage or capability to stop Pakistan’s water and turn it barren.

He said that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its share of water would prove extremely dangerous for the peace and tranquility of the entire region, which could lead to grave consequences.

Referring to an important statement by DPM Dar, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that any so-called attempt by India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty is illegal, unilateral, and baseless, which Pakistan rejects with full force, and that Pakistan will not make any compromise on its water rights.

Andrabi added that the real issue is the attitude of the Indian leadership, under which they view water as an asset that they can stop, divert, or bring under their control whenever they wish.

He said this mindset of occupation at will is not only against this long-standing water treaty but also against international law.

The spokesperson said that obstructing the water supply would be a violation of India’s own international commitments, which would damage its credibility worldwide.