Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday received Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul. The meeting marked a significant diplomatic engagement between Turkey and Pakistan, underscoring the strong ties between the two nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, the official welcoming ceremony was followed by a bilateral meeting attended by key Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Intelligence Organization head Ibrahim Kalin, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and the president's chief adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic. The closed-door meeting lasted about an hour, indicating an in-depth discussion on matters of mutual interest.

After the bilateral meeting, Erdogan and Sharif moved to a delegation-level working lunch, further solidifying the diplomatic dialogue between the two countries. A joint news conference is also anticipated, where the leaders are expected to address the media on the outcomes of their discussions.