Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif became the centre of attention at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, where several world leaders approached him for meetings and exchanges during the high-level gathering of global leaders.

The three-day forum, being held from April 17 to 19 under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties” brought together heads of state, diplomats and policymakers from around the world to discuss global challenges and regional cooperation.

During the event, PM Shehbaz was seated among key dignitaries, and after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded his speech and stepped off the stage, he walked directly towards the Pakistani premier, media reports said.

Following Erdoğan, several other leaders attending the forum also gathered around the Pakistani premier.

Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani were among the leaders who met PM Shehbaz. They were followed by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Leaders from several other countries, including Kazakhstan, also met with PM Shehbaz on the sidelines of the conference.

In one of the key moments from the event, PM Shehbaz, Erdoğan and Ilham Aliyev stood together holding hands, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening ties and taking relations between the three countries to the next level.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, hosted annually in Antalya by the Turkish government, serves as a platform for dialogue on diplomacy, regional stability and international cooperation.

This year’s conference comes as the world stands at the brink of a global war amid the United States (US) and Israel’s offensive against Iran, and Pakistan’s efforts to broker peace.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Pakistani leadership, both civil and military, has repeatedly been appreciated by world leaders for its efforts aimed at regional and global peace.