Foreign ministers review recent regional developments, agree to maintain close contact on matters of mutual interest
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Photo: X/ File
Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov lauded Pakistan’s proactive role in promoting regional peace and de-escalation during a phone call with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday.
The conflict began following coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, including the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and US targets. Pakistan has since assumed a prominent diplomatic role in efforts to de-escalate the crisis, positioning Islamabad as a venue and facilitator for potential talks between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan’s leadership has received international recognition for its role in facilitating peace efforts in the Middle East, particularly in advancing US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for regional stability. The praise from both US and Iranian officials underscores Pakistan’s growing profile as a diplomatic mediator in regional conflicts, reflecting its commitment to international peace efforts and its strategic influence in South and West Asia.
The Foreign Office said today on X that FM Dar held a phone call with his Uzbek counterpart, who “commended Pakistan’s proactive role in promoting regional peace, stability and de-escalation, and appreciated Pakistan’s leadership in hosting the recent meeting of four foreign ministers in Islamabad”.
He also expressed full support for the Pakistan-China Five-Point Initiative aimed at fostering peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East.
“The two leaders also reviewed recent regional developments and agreed to maintain close contact on matters of mutual interest,” the statement added.
Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, spoke today with Foreign Minister of #Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov @FM_Saidov.
FM Saidov commended Pakistan’s proactive role in promoting regional peace, stability, and de-escalation, and… pic.twitter.com/zjsZYh2xN3
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 2, 2026
Last week, Pakistan hosted the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, who arrived in Islamabad over the weekend for a quadrilateral meeting focused on de‑escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
The foreign ministers also agreed on the need to contain the situation, reduce the risks of further military escalation and create conditions conducive to structured negotiations.
They emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path forward, while calling for adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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After the four-way talks on Sunday, in a televised statement, FM Dar announced that Islamabad could host high-stakes talks between Iran and the US “in the coming days”. “I briefed the visiting brother foreign ministers about the prospects of potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The visiting foreign ministers expressed their fullest support for this initiative,” he said.
He added, “Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides for a comprehensive and lasting settlement,” adding that both Tehran and Washington had expressed confidence in Islamabad’s role as a neutral facilitator.
