APR 16 (V7N) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Saudi Arabia to begin a four-day diplomatic tour, which will also include visits to Qatar and Turkey. This trip follows a historic US-Iran peace talk in Islamabad last weekend, where high-level discussions marked a potential turning point in regional relations. Sharif is set to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional issues strengthening bilateral ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He will also participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, where he is expected to engage with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other global leaders.

The US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad are seen as a significant step toward resolving the ongoing conflict, sparked by the US and Israel's February attack on Iran. In retaliation, Iran targeted US allies in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while disrupting energy exports, which caused a sharp rise in oil prices. Although the talks in Islamabad ended without an agreement, US President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of further discussions in the coming week in Pakistan.

During his visit, Sharif will be accompanied by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, a key mediator in the US-Iran talks. Additionally, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are deepening their economic ties, with Riyadh agreeing to provide $3 billion to help Pakistan bolster its foreign reserves, a boost for Islamabad as it navigates its financial challenges.

Meanwhile, a separate Pakistani delegation led by army chief Asim Munir has arrived in Iran to deliver a message from Washington and discuss the next steps in the peace process.

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