KARACHI, Pakistan

Newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Irfan Neziroglu on Thursday met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss a range of issues, including bilateral relations and the Middle East situation.

Neziroglu's maiden meeting with Sharif was held at the Prime Minister's Office in Islamabad, according to a statement from the latter's office.

Late last month, Neziroglu presented his credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari.

Welcoming the Turkish ambassador, Sharif said he looks forward to working closely with him to further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Türkiye.

While recalling the historical and long-standing ties between the two countries, Sharif expressed gratitude for Türkiye's “consistent” support for Pakistan in the lingering Kashmir issue, the statement said.

Pakistan, he added, would also continue to strongly support Türkiye in its core interests.

The regional situation, particularly in Gaza and the Middle East, was also discussed during the meeting.

Conveying his “warm greetings and best wishes” to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sharif reiterated his invitation to the Turkish president to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

He expressed satisfaction with the growing bilateral cooperation and stressed the need for deeper cooperation in trade, investment, and defense, the statement said.

Neziroglu, for his part, assured Sharif of his “full” commitment and support in further strengthening the two countries' relations, the statement concluded.