Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt begin talks on US-Iran war in Islamabad

Consultations among the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt commenced in Islamabad on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a post on X.

“Convened at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Ministers during the consultations will review the evolving regional situation and discuss issues of mutual interest,” the ministry wrote.

The four-nation meeting will take place today and tomorrow (March 29 and 30), with the Egyptian, Turkish, and Saudi foreign ministers in attendance.

Earlier, in a tweet on X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the arrival of Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty at the ministry, where he was received by Dar. “The two sides will hold bilateral consultations on regional developments and matters of mutual interest,’ the ministry wrote.

Further, the Foreign Office announced that Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, arrived at the ministry, where he was also received by the DPM. “The two leaders will hold bilateral consultations on all issues of mutual interest, including regional developments,” the tweet concluded.

Abdelatty arrived in Islamabad last night to participate in the meeting, where Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ahmed Maroof accorded him a warm welcome. Fidan was received by Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ali Asad Gillani at Nur Khan Airbase.

Read: Iran’s president tells PM Shehbaz trust needed for talks to end Middle East conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud arrived in Islamabad midday Sunday, the Foreign Office announced on X.

Al Saud was received by Additional Secretary Middle East Syed Ahmad Maroof. According to the ministry, during al Saud’s visit, “he will hold consultations on regional developments.”

The ministry added, “The visit reflects the close and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and their continued coordination on regional and international issues.”

Dar received the Saudi foreign minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated, “The two sides will engage in comprehensive consultations on the evolving regional situation.’

It added, “The visit reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to sustained dialogue, close coordination and enhanced cooperation in addressing evolving regional developments.”

Prior to the commencement of the joint discussion, the DPM held bilateral talks with all three foreign ministers.

The Foreign Office took to X, writing that Dar “held productive discussions on Pakistan-Egypt bilateral relations” with Abdelatty.

It added that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening ties, enhancing economic cooperation, and coordinating on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Similarly, Dar held talks with Fidan. “Both leaders reaffirmed strong Pakistan–Turkiye ties, discussed regional developments incl. Iran, and stressed dialogue, de-escalation, diplomacy & coordination for peace and stability,” the Foreign Office tweeted.

The Foreign Office also announced that Dar and the Saudi foreign minister “held in-depth discussions on evolving regional developments, emphasising the importance of dialogue, de-escalation, and coordinated efforts for peace and stability in the region.”

The tweet added that the two dignitaries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties.

The meeting of the foreign ministers will include detailed deliberations on the regional security situation, tensions in the Middle East, and matters of mutual cooperation. The diplomatic consultations will include discussions on regional stability, the promotion of peace, and a joint strategy.

It is expected that a joint course of action for peace and stability in the region will emerge from the discussions.

Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the United States and Iran in their ongoing conflict which has spread across the Gulf region.

Read More: FM Dar urges dialogue, diplomacy in call with Araghchi ahead of ‘indepth’ Islamabad talks on Iran war

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly offered Pakistan as a venue for US-Iran peace talks, an offer that received an extraordinary boost when Trump reposted it on his Truth Social platform, a move widely seen in Islamabad as Washington’s tacit endorsement of Pakistan’s emerging role as a mediator.

On Thursday, Dar confirmed that indirect communication between the US and Iran was underway through messages being relayed by Pakistan, with Turkiye and Egypt also assisting diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the tensions in the Middle East.

The DPM has engaged with various political figures as Pakistan continues to call for de-escalation of the conflict; these include discussions with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.