POLITICAL ISSUES
EGYPT
1. Pakistan condemns attacks on Churches
Islamabad, Monday, 10 April 2017   
The terrorist attacks on Coptic Churches in the Central Delta city of Tanta and Alexandria in Egypt on 9 April were strongly condemned by the Foreign Office and National Commission for Justice and Peace, an organization of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad 

IRAN
2. Parliamentary delegation visits Iran
Islamabad, Friday, 21 April 2017   
A ten-member parliamentary delegation led by Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq held meeting with their Iranian counterparts and other dignitaries from 21 to 25 April to discuss bilateral issues including terrorism, trade and commerce.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: Radio Pakistan, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: Dawn, Karachi

JORDAN
3. Jordanian delegation visits Pakistan     
Islamabad, Friday, 21 April 2017   
Jordanian delegation led by President of the Senate Faisal El-Fayez paid a four-day visit to Pakistan and held meetings with President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chairman Raza Rabbani and Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz to deliberate over bilateral issues.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: Radio Pakistan, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

OMAN
4. Pakistan envoy meets Oman’s Information Minister
Islamabad, Monday, 17 April 2017   
Pakistan’s envoy to Oman Ali Javed met Oman’s Minister for Information Mansoor Al-Hasani in Muscat for comprehensive review of bilateral ties, with special emphasis on interaction between journalists and civil society.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

QATAR
5. Qatari Defence Minister visits Pakistan Military Academy
Islamabad, Saturday, 15 April 2017   
Defence Minister of Qatar Khalid Al Attiyah was the chief guest in the passing out parade of 135 Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) long course, Integrated Course 54 and Mujahid Course 7 held at Kakul, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: The Express Tribune, Karachi   

TURKEY
6. Judicial delegation visits Turkey 
Islamabad, Friday, 14 April 2017   
High-level judicial delegation including Director General, faculty members of the Punjab Judicial Academy, Lahore and Shariat Academy of the International Islamic University, Islamabad interacted with counterparts and senior Turkish officials to discuss judicial system.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

7. Turkish delegation on archaeology visits Islamabad, Taxila
Islamabad, Wednesday, 26 April 2017   
A two-member delegation from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), led by Country Director Mahmat Emre Akhatuna discussed avenues for cooperation in the field of culture and archaeology and visited archaeological sites in Islamabad and Taxila Museum.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

YEMEN
8. Pakistan rules out military involvement; but woes support to Saudi Arabia
Islamabad, Thursday, 13 April 2017   
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Yemen Jalil Al Mekhlafi held a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad to discuss situation in Yemen and bilateral issues, during his two-day visit from 12-14 April.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: Daily Times, Lahore

DEFENCE ISSUES
IRAN
9. Iranian Naval ship visits Karachi
Islamabad, Saturday, 8 April 2017   
Two Iranian Naval ships Naghdi and Tonb paid goodwill-cum-training visit to Karachi wherein operational training activities, interaction between personnel and sports activities were organized.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: The News International, Karachi

10. Iranian envoy meets Army Chief
Islamabad, Wednesday, 19 April 2017   
Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Qamar Bajwa to discuss evolving regional security matrix and bilateral issues.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: The Nation, Lahore

ECONOMIC ISSUES    
IRAN
11. Pakistan, Iran to sign FTA
Islamabad, Thursday, 6 April 2017   
An official at Commerce Ministry stated that banking channels between State Bank of Pakistan and Central Bank of Iran have been resumed and Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be signed soon.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: The Nation, Lahore

SAUDI ARABIA
12. Saudi religious minister, Imam visits Pakistan
Islamabad, Friday, 7 April 2017   
Saudi Minister for Religious Affairs Seleh Aziz Al-Sheikh and Imam of Holy Mosque of Mecca Saleh Ibrahim al Talib met Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Yousaf in Azakhel Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Imam Talib also held separate meetings with Pakistan’s President and Prime Minister in Islamabad.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: Daily Times, Lahore 

TURKEY
13. Turkey, Pakistan discuss investment
Islamabad, Monday, 17 April 2017   
Consul General of Turkey in Karachi Murat Mustafa held a meeting with Sindh’s Governor Muhammad Zubair to express Turkish interests in Pakistani investment market and explore avenues for investment.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

14. Pakistan grieves loss of Saudi crew in Turkey helicopter crash
Islamabad, Wednesday, 19 April 2017   
Pakistan condoled the loss of 12 Saudi crewmembers in the helicopter crash in Tunceli Province of Turkey.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
IRAN
15. Pakistan grieves loss of lives by flash floods and rain
Islamabad, Sunday, 16 April 2017   
Iranian envoy to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost visited Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Qamar Bajwa to deliberate over matters of regional security and mutual interest.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION
16. OIC Secretary General meets Nawaz Sharif, discusses Kashmir issue
Islamabad, Sunday, 9 April 2017   
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary Yousef Al-Othaimeen paid a three-day visit to Pakistan and held meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss relevant issues including OIC’s consistent support to Islamabad on the Kashmir issue.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See Also: The Express Tribune, Karachi

TURKEY
17. Turkish children write letters of gratitude to Pakistan
Islamabad, Thursday, 27 April 2017   
Director of Yasemin Karakaya Science and Arts Centre Levent Gun met Pakistan’s envoy Sohail Mahmood and handed over the letters written by numerous primary and middle school students across Turkey to the Pakistani nation to express gratitude to the people of Pakistan for their historic support during the Turkish War of Independence.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad    

COMPILED BY DIVYA MALHOTRA

Divya Malhotra is a Doctoral candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy