Pakistan PM at Antalya Diplomacy Forum; Af-Pak Border Quiet Under Urumqi Framework

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif participated in the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on April 17, meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other leaders to coordinate support for a second round of US-Iran peace negotiations. Simultaneously, Army Chief Asim Munir continued his Tehran engagement. Pakistan's dual diplomatic presence at the highest level — PM in Turkey, Army Chief in Iran — highlighted Islamabad's emergence as a central player in regional conflict management. No significant Af-Pak military incidents were reported on April 17. The Urumqi non-escalation framework — in place since April 9 — continued to hold along the Durand Line. Taliban officials in Kabul signaled readiness for the second round of China-mediated Af-Pak talks, expected by end of April, but were awaiting Pakistani scheduling confirmation. The calm along the border was noted by UNAMA and humanitarian organizations as an opportunity to restore supply lines to cut-off communities in Nuristan and Kunar.