Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed London for Istanbul on Sunday for official engagements, including a scheduled regional meeting of foreign ministers, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Dar is travelling to Türkiye ahead of the Regional Four Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Istanbul, where regional issues and diplomatic cooperation are expected to feature in discussions.
The visit follows the conclusion of Dar’s official trip to the United Kingdom, during which he held delegation-level talks with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and met several senior British and international officials.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar also held meetings with UK Minister of State for Pakistan Stephen Doughty, National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
His London engagements also included discussions with British parliamentarians of Pakistani origin from both Houses of Parliament and interactions with members of the Pakistani community in the UK.
The Foreign Office described Dar’s UK visit as successful, with the trip forming part of Islamabad’s continuing diplomatic engagement with Britain and other international partners.
Dar’s departure for Istanbul shifts the focus towards regional diplomacy, with his participation in the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting forming a key part of his official engagements in Türkiye.