Istanbul: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has concluded a one-day visit to Istanbul, where he participated in significant diplomatic and defense-oriented discussions. The visit included the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, formed under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which saw the participation of Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other officials.

According to Radio Pakistan, Ishaq Dar also engaged in a bilateral meeting with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. Following the Istanbul visit, the Deputy Prime Minister is en route to Bishkek, accompanied by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defence Yasar Güler. In Bishkek, Dar will join Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting and the SCO Plus Summit.

During the three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan is set to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27. The Deputy Prime Minister will be present alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during engagements in Bishkek, which include bilateral discussions with President Sadyr Zhaparov aimed at strengthening Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and exploring enhanced cooperation in areas of mutual interest.