Pakistan Foreign Office Outlines Busy Week of Diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – Pakistan’s Foreign Office has highlighted an active period of diplomatic engagement over the past two weeks, including high-level visits to China and the United States, as well as sustained outreach on regional and global issues, during its weekly press briefing held on Thursday.

The briefing noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited China from May 23 to 26, 2026, at the invitation of the Chinese government. During the visit, he met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, and chaired a Pakistan–China Business-to-Business Investment Conference focusing on IT and telecom, battery energy storage systems, and agriculture.

The briefing also highlighted the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to the United States from May 26 to 28, where he participated in the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on international peace and security and attended the Group of Friends on Global Governance meeting in New York.

On the sidelines of the visit, Ishaq Dar held bilateral meetings with several foreign ministers and senior UN officials, followed by a key engagement in Washington, D.C., where discussions focused on strengthening Pakistan–U.S. relations, expanding economic cooperation, and enhancing collaboration in counterterrorism and security.

The briefing stated that both sides also exchanged views on regional developments, with Pakistan emphasizing diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability. The Foreign Office noted continued coordination between Islamabad and international partners on emerging geopolitical challenges.

Shehbaz Sharif China Visit Aims to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

Upon returning to Pakistan, the Deputy Prime Minister engaged in follow-up diplomatic calls with foreign ministers of Egypt, Iran, and Kuwait, focusing on the evolving situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

The statement also underscored the visit of Kaja Kallas to Pakistan on June 1, 2026, during which she co-chaired the 8th Pakistan–EU Strategic Dialogue. The EU official also met senior leadership including the President, Prime Minister, and military leadership, reflecting continued momentum in Pakistan–EU relations.

Additionally, the briefing referenced a joint statement by foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates condemning actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque and reaffirming support for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital.