FM Dar urges close liaison with Turkiye

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday stressed the need for closer coordination between Pakistan and Türkiye ahead of the upcoming Joint Commission and the eighth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the Foreign Office said. According to the FO, Dar made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Irfan Nezirolu, "on progress under various bilateral institutional mechanisms aimed at advancing cooperation across a range of areas, following recent high-level interactions between Pakistan and Türkiye." Dar "reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further deepening engagement with Türkiye in key priority areas." He also "emphasised the need for relevant departments to closely coordinate preparations" for the forthcoming Joint Commission and the eighth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the FO's statement added. According to the foreign minister, the coordination would help advance the bilateral agenda. The two sides also exchanged views on the evolving regional situation, with FM Dar underscoring that "dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path" to resolving issues and achieving lasting peace, stability and prosperity, the FO said. Dar met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott to discuss Pakistan-United Kingdom relations and understandings reached during his visit to the UK in August, the FO said in a separate statement. The discussions focused on "ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest," it added. Dar "underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement" between Pakistan and the UK, according to the statement. The foreign minister and the British high commissioner also discussed regional and international developments of mutual interest, the FO's statement noted